A pastor was killed and an unknown number of worshippers were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday night when they attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo, Ekiti, Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Ekiti State.
The community is in a state of panic following the attack, which happened during a church program at around 8:30 p.m., and locals are worried about the growing level of insecurity in the area.
According to local sources, the armed and numerous attackers stormed the church on the town’s outskirts, shot the pastor dead, and drove a number of worshippers into a nearby forest.
The precise number of kidnapped victims is still being ascertained, according to one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
There were numerous invaders. They removed some worshippers and killed the pastor. The number is still unknown. The process of gathering the missing has started. For now, the community is in a state of panic, according to the source.
The Ekiti State Police Command confirmed the incident on Wednesday and said it had started a rescue effort to ensure the victims’ release.
Sunday Abutu, the state’s police public relations officer, stated that Michael Falade, the commissioner of police, had ordered a comprehensive investigation and a manhunt for the offenders.
In order to guarantee the rescue of the victims and the arrest and prosecution of the offenders, the police have begun aggressive bush-combing operations and a serious manhunt for the perpetrators in cooperation with the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, the Agro Marshal, the vigilantes, and the locahunters, according to Abutu.
He continued by saying that the police were working to make sure the victims were safely rescued and that the perpetrators were apprehended.
