Actress, Arugba Slams Kwara Govt Over Eruku Church Attack, Says Three Cousins Abducted

Nollywood actress Oluwabukola Awoyemi, popularly known as Bukola Arugba, has raised alarm over the attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, insisting that three of her close relatives are among those abducted.

Arugba, who hails from the affected community, made the disclosure in an emotional video posted on Instagram while reacting to what she described as “misleading and inaccurate” reports issued by the Kwara State First Lady, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq.

Actress Rejects Claim of ‘Attempted Attack’

A viral video from Tuesday night showed gunmen storming the church during a programme, firing shots and sending worshippers scrambling for safety. Several persons were abducted, and at least three worshippers were reportedly killed.

But Arugba said the First Lady’s statement, which described the incident as an “attempted attack,” contradicted the harsh reality known to residents.

She said: “I read a press release on the Kwara State First Lady’s page regarding the bandit attack in my home, Eruku, which totally contradicts the sad truth. The information you got from the Kwara State police is false, Ma’am.”

Insisting that the incident was far from an attempt, she added: “It was a successful attack, not an attempted attack. A lot of people were abducted; three people are dead.”

‘My Relatives Are In Bandits’ Den’

The actress disclosed that at least three to four of her cousins are currently being held by the attackers. She identified some of the abducted relatives as Evangelist Titi Balogun, her mother’s younger sister, and Ebenezer Aina, her cousin’s son.

According to her: “I have spoken to a lot of people from my town—my cousins, my uncles. Presently, three to four of my cousins are in the bandits’ den. Everyone is crying in my town now because we don’t know if they will be found dead or alive.”

Arugba maintained that the community witnessed the entire incident in real time, citing the live-streamed video showing congregants screaming and trying to escape as gunmen invaded the church.

She accused government authorities of attempting to water down the severity of the attack.

“Something like that happened, and the direct opposite of what was being reported was the actual outcome,” she said.

Addressing the First Lady directly, she added: “It is so painful that we are seeing what was posted on your page. The reports on your page are false. They totally contradict what actually happened.”

Residents of Eruku say fear has gripped the community as families await news on the abducted worshippers. Many accuse authorities of slow response and “downplaying a tragedy that has shaken the entire town.”