Gunmen invade Ekiti church, gun down pastor, abduct worshippers

Eda Oniyo church attack leaves pastor dead and worshippers abducted after gunmen storm crusade in Ekiti State in a shocking raid

Suspected gunmen stormed an open-air crusade ground in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, south-west Nigeria, on Tuesday evening, in a Eda Oniyo church attack that left a pastor dead and several worshippers abducted during a violent and shocking raid, according to Vanguard reports.

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The assailants reportedly invaded the outskirts of the community in large numbers, opening fire on worshippers who had gathered for a church programme.

The attackers, described by eyewitnesses as heavily armed, operated for several minutes in what residents have called a terrifying and brutal assault.

During the attack, the gunmen shot the pastor leading the crusade and abducted multiple worshippers, including elderly persons and children, before forcing them into a nearby forest.

The attackers has since thrown the community into deep tension and fear, with residents expressing concern over rising insecurity in rural areas.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers arrived suddenly and overwhelmed the venue, causing panic and chaos as worshippers attempted to flee.

The open-air nature of the crusade reportedly made attendees more vulnerable during the raid.

At the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the Ekiti State Police Command were unsuccessful.

Calls and messages sent to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, had not been returned.

Security agencies are expected to launch a search operation in the surrounding forest area as pressure mounts for swift action to rescue the abducted worshippers and apprehend those responsible for the Eda Oniyo church attack.

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The incident adds to growing concerns over targeted attacks on rural communities in parts of Nigeria, raising urgent questions about protection for worship centres and public gatherings.

Mariam Balogun