Gunmen have attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo community in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The assailants killed a pastor and forcibly abducted several worshippers during a crusade service.
Gunmen attacked a church in Ekiti, killed a pastor and abducted worshippers during a crusade
Gunmen attacked a church in Ekiti during a crusade and kidnapped several worshippers
The incident occurred on the evening of Tuesday, April 28, and has left residents in shock.
Witnesses said the assailants stormed the open-air programme on the outskirts of the town while activities were ongoing.
According to PremiumTimes, the attackers reportedly opened fire, killing the presiding pastor before taking an unspecified number of worshippers into a nearby forest.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity described the scale of the нападение.
“This evening, some gunmen invaded a church around the outskirts of Eda Oniyo during a church programme. They abducted several worshippers, including elderly persons and children.
“They shot the pastor and took the worshippers into the forest. The attackers came in large numbers and were heavily armed,” the source said.
Security operatives begin rescue of abductees
The exact number of those kidnapped has not been confirmed, but the attack has triggered panic across the community. Many residents have remained indoors amid fears of further violence.
A government official familiar with the situation confirmed that security operatives have been deployed to the area.
“Yes, some worshippers were kidnapped in Eda Oniyo today, but security agencies are involved. The government has deployed security operatives to the area and they are already on the trail of the attackers,” the official said.
