Viewers watch helplessly as gunmen storm church on livestream, open fire, and drag victims into the night

Gunmen attacked a church in Eruku, Nigeria, on Monday evening while the service was being broadcast live online. The armed attackers killed several people and kidnapped others, including the pastor. The attack happened at Christ Apostolic Church around 6pm in a small town in Kwara State.

According to The Sun, people watching the livestream saw everything happen in real time. The service was going normally when gunshots suddenly rang out. Church members ran in different directions trying to find safety as bullets flew through the building. Then masked men carrying guns and machetes walked into the church and started pulling people out of their hiding spots.

People who live in the area talked about what they saw. “Three people were killed instantly,” local residents told reporters. “We still don’t know the exact number taken.” The gunmen forced the pastor and other church members to walk into the nearby forest at gunpoint before they disappeared.

The community has been living in fear for weeks

Officers found two dead bodies after the attack. One man named Mr Aderemi was shot and killed inside the church building. Another victim, Mr Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was found dead in the bushes near the church. A local security guard named Segun Alaja got shot during the attack and was taken to the hospital in Eruku.

The next day, angry young people blocked a major highway to protest the attack. They put logs, tires, and wooden boards across the road so cars could not pass. The protesters wanted the government to do more to keep their town safe.

The state governor asked for more security forces to be sent to Eruku and nearby towns. His office said the president had already agreed to send 900 extra troops to help with security in the area. Local leaders said their town has been attacked several times in just the last three weeks.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the attack happened at 6pm. She said police officers and local guards got to the church quickly after hearing the gunshots, which made the attackers run away into the forest. The top police official in the area promised they will keep working until they catch the criminals.

This attack is part of a bigger problem in Nigeria. Church leaders have been speaking out about more attacks happening against Christians in the country. Some people in other countries say Christians are being targeted on purpose. 

But Nigerian government officials say the armed groups attack everyone, no matter what religion they follow. Nigeria has both Muslims and Christians living there, and different armed groups have been causing problems in many parts of the country. Trump recently spoke about a mass shooting and has also talked about taking action in Nigeria because of these attacks.