Kwara state police command has rejected a viral video on social media alleging that the gunmen responsible for the attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA, had been caught.
Gatekeepers News reports that the video, circulated across WhatsApp and Facebook, claimed that local vigilantes apprehended the assailants barely two days after the assault on the church, during which several members were abducted.
In a statement on Thursday, police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi described the circulating clip as completely false and urged citizens to disregard it.
She noted that although the command had seen the footage, the assertions it made had no factual backing.
The statement reads, “The Kwara State Police Command is aware of a video circulating online claiming that the bandits who attacked church worshippers in the Eruku community have been arrested.”
“This information is completely false and should be disregarded.”
Ejire-Adeyemi added that no one had been taken into custody in connection with the incident and said security teams were continuing their operations to find the victims.
She said, “The command wishes to state clearly that no arrest has been made yet in connection with the attack.”
“Security agencies are actively conducting intensified operations in and around Eruku town to track down the perpetrators and ensure the safe recovery of the abducted victims.”
She warned that spreading unverified information during crises could heighten anxiety and hinder rescue work, urging residents to avoid sharing misleading content.
The spokesperson assured the public that efforts were ongoing to rescue those taken and restore normalcy in the community.
Meanwhile, the attackers, who seized about 35 worshippers, have reportedly demanded N100 million ransom per hostage. The assault, carried out on Tuesday evening, was captured during a live-streamed church service, which showed worshippers abruptly disrupted by loud gunfire around the premises.
