April 29, (THEWILL) — Panic has gripped residents of Eda Oniyo-Ekiti in Ekiti State following a deadly attack by armed men on a church prayer ground, where a pastor was killed and several worshippers abducted during a late-night vigil.
The Nigeria Police Force in Ekiti State confirmed the incident on Wednesday, disclosing that an intensive manhunt had been launched to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the attackers.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Sunday Abutu, said the attack occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday when members of the Christ Apostolic Church were holding a night vigil on the outskirts of Eda Oniyo-Ekiti.
According to Abutu, preliminary investigations showed that about five armed men invaded the prayer ground, opened fire on worshippers, and fatally shot the pastor before abducting some members of the congregation to an unknown destination.
The police spokesman described the attack as tragic and assured residents that security agencies had already swung into action to track down the perpetrators.
He stated that the command had commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident alongside a coordinated security operation aimed at rescuing the kidnapped worshippers unharmed.
Abutu disclosed that the rescue efforts involve a joint operation by the police, the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, Agro Marshals, local vigilantes, and hunters, who have begun extensive bush-combing operations across forests and surrounding communities in search of the gunmen.
“The command has commenced a thorough investigation into the incident, while coordinated efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators and rescue the abducted victims,” he said.
The police further assured residents that proactive measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence of such attacks and strengthen security surveillance across vulnerable locations in the state.
The incident has triggered fear among residents of the community, particularly as the attack occurred during a religious gathering attended by worshippers observing a night vigil.
Abutu urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could assist ongoing operations.
He also advised religious leaders and organisers of night programmes to comply with the Ekiti State Government’s security directives requiring prior notification to security agencies before holding late-night gatherings, especially in remote or isolated locations.
According to him, early notification would enable adequate deployment of security personnel and improve emergency response in the event of threats or attacks.
The police spokesperson further called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities within their communities to security agencies.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, assuring that no effort would be spared in ensuring the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack.
For emergency reporting and prompt security response, the command released a dedicated emergency contact number (08062335577) for residents to communicate urgent security concerns.
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