JUST IN: Gunmen Attack Ekiti Church, Kill Pastor, Abduct Worshippers

Residents of Eda Oniyo Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State were thrown into panic on Tuesday evening after gunmen attacked a church during an open-air crusade.

The assailants reportedly stormed the church, located on the outskirts of the community, while the service was ongoing.

During the attack, the presiding pastor was killed and several worshippers were abducted.

Sources within the community said the heavily armed gunmen operated for several minutes before taking an unspecified number of victims into a nearby forest.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the attackers arrived in large numbers and began shooting upon entering the crusade ground.

“This evening, gunmen invaded a church on the outskirts of Eda Oniyo during a programme. They abducted several worshippers, including elderly people and children.

“They shot the pastor and took the victims into the forest. The attackers came in large numbers and were heavily armed,” the source said.

Although the exact number of those abducted remains unclear, the incident has left the community gripped with fear.

Confirming the attack, a senior government official and member of the state’s security committee, who requested anonymity, said security operatives had been deployed to the area and were already tracking the attackers. He expressed confidence that the victims would be rescued safely.

“Yes, some worshippers were kidnapped in Eda Oniyo today. Security agencies are on ground and have begun operations to track the attackers,” the official said.

Efforts to reach the police for comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.