BREAKING: Gunmen Invade Ekiti Church Crusade, Kill Pastor, Abduct Worshippers

BREAKING: Gunmen Invade Ekiti Church Crusade, Kill Pastor, Abduct Worshippers

Pandemonium broke out on Tuesday evening in Eda Oniyo community, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, after suspected gunmen invaded an open-air church crusade, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the crusade ground on the outskirts of the community in large numbers, opening fire sporadically and causing worshippers to flee in different directions.

Multiple community sources said the armed men operated for several minutes before whisking away an unspecified number of victims into a nearby forest.

“This evening, gunmen invaded a church around the outskirts of Eda Oniyo during a programme. They abducted several worshippers, including elderly persons and children,” one source said.

“They shot the pastor and took the worshippers into the forest. They came in large numbers and were heavily armed.”

The slain cleric was said to be the officiating pastor of the crusade, while other worshippers were reportedly injured during the attack.

Although the exact number of abducted persons is yet to be confirmed, residents said the incident has thrown the entire community into panic and fear.

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A resident described the attack as sudden and coordinated, noting that the gunmen operated without resistance before fleeing into the surrounding bush paths with their victims.

A top government official and member of the state’s security committee, who spoke under anonymity, confirmed the incident and said security operatives had already been deployed to the area.

According to the official, combined teams of police officers, local security outfits and vigilantes have begun a search-and-rescue operation in nearby forests to locate the abducted worshippers and track the attackers.

“Yes, some worshippers were kidnapped in Eda Oniyo today. Security agencies are already involved. Operatives have been deployed and are on the trail of the attackers,” the source said.

The official added that the government is working to ensure the safe rescue of all victims.

Meanwhile, attempts to obtain an official reaction from the Ekiti State Police Command were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, were not returned at the time of filing this report.

The attack adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, highways, and gatherings, including religious events.

Security analysts have warned that isolated communities and open-air religious gatherings remain vulnerable due to limited surveillance and delayed emergency response times.

Residents of Eda Oniyo and neighbouring communities have called for urgent deployment of more security personnel to prevent further attacks and restore confidence in the area.

As of press time, authorities had not released the exact number of abducted worshippers, while search operations were ongoing in surrounding forested areas.

BREAKING: Gunmen Invade Ekiti Church Crusade, Kill Pastor, Abduct Worshippers