The Ekiti State Government has announced that it has launched full-scale surveillance operations in the Eda Oniyo axis of the state in a bid to track down armed men who attacked a church and abducted worshippers during a vigil service.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening at a Christ Apostolic Church parish in Eda Oniyo, an area bordering Kwara State—left the pastor dead and about 15 congregants kidnapped.
The attackers were said to have stormed the church during night prayers before shooting the cleric and taking several worshippers into a nearby forest.
Confirming the development in a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, described the attack as disturbing and unacceptable.
He said, “The Ekiti State Government strongly condemns the attack in Eda Oniyo. It is a heinous act that has no place in our society. We extend our condolences to the families affected and assure residents that efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted persons and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Olatunbosun explained that the government had deployed a high-level security team immediately after the incident, led by the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.), to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts on the ground.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Michael Falade, also joined the joint security operation involving the police, military personnel, Amotekun Corps, and local vigilante groups.
He further disclosed that additional military reinforcement had been deployed to the area.
“The 148 Battalion of the Nigerian Army has been mobilised to the community alongside its commanding officer. We have activated full surveillance operations to monitor the environment, track the attackers, and prevent further incidents,” he said.
The commissioner added that security operatives were already conducting search and rescue missions aimed at securing the safe release of the abducted worshippers.
Preliminary assessments, he noted, suggest that the church is located close to a forest, a factor that may have made it vulnerable to the attack.
He urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, especially in border communities and areas near forest reserves.
He also advised that night activities such as vigils should be communicated to security agencies in advance to ensure protection.
“Residents are encouraged to cooperate with security agencies and report suspicious movements. The government remains fully committed to safeguarding lives and property across the state,” Olatunbosun added.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State also condemned the attack, describing it as a cruel and senseless act. The party urged security agencies to ensure swift justice while cautioning against politicising the tragedy.
The APC expressed sympathy with the families of the victims and prayed for the safe return of those abducted, insisting that accountability must be ensured to deter future attacks.
