A fire broke out at the Christ Apostolic Church in Wisdom Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday night, trapping several worshippers during a Friday vigil.
The incident, which occurred around 9:30 pm on Olohunda Road, Lagelu Local Government Area, was confirmed by sources on Saturday morning.
Eyewitnesses reported that some worshippers had fallen asleep in preparation for the vigil when the blaze erupted. One witness stated, "Some people had already slept off when the fire started."
Another eyewitness described the desperate situation inside the church, saying, "An elderly woman who could barely walk was still inside the church when the fire was raging."
The Oyo State Fire Services responded to the scene after being alerted by a resident.
The agency's General Manager, Akinyemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident but noted that the cause of the fire remains unknown as of press time.
Efforts to ascertain the full extent of the damage and possible casualties are ongoing.