Gunmen attacked a church in Nigeria, killing two and kidnapping the pastor and several worshippers, marking another incident of escalating violence against Christians in the nation. The attack occurred on Tuesday evening in Eruku, a town in central Nigeria’s Kw, where the violence unfolded during a service at Christ Apostolic Church. Armed men entered the premises, forcing parishioners to take cover as gunshots ring out. The perpetrators were seen taking worshippers’ belongings, as per a video reviewed and verified by Reuters. The incident highlights a concerning trend of violence against religious communities in Nigeria, with similar attacks reported recently, including the kidnapping of 25 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State. Police there reported that the perpetrators used sophisticated weapons and exchanged fire with guards before abducting the students.
Following the attack, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State reportedly asked for the immediate deployment of security operatives, citing the growing threat to public safety. The governor’s spokesperson confirmed the statement, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address the rising levels of violence. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has taken notice, with President Donald Trump designating Nigeria as a country of particular concern due to the escalating violence against Christians. This designation underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing the crisis, although its effectiveness remains a subject of debate.
The situation in Nigeria has also drawn the attention of high-profile figures, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, who addressed the issue during an event held on Tuesday. Waltz described the violence against Christians as