Security agencies in Ekiti State, including the Nigerian Army, Police, Amotekun Corps, and local vigilantes, have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue and tracking operation following a deadly attack on a church in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the state.
The attack occurred on Tuesday evening during a church programme held at a Christ Apostolic Church location on the outskirts of the community. According to police confirmations, armed men invaded the church, opened fire on worshippers, killed a pastor, and abducted an unspecified number of congregants into a nearby forest.
Eyewitness accounts and police preliminary findings indicate that about five armed attackers were involved in the operation, which took place around 8:30pm–10:30pm depending on reporting sources. The assailants reportedly operated for several minutes before escaping through surrounding forest areas with victims.
In response, the Ekiti State Government condemned the attack as “heinous and unacceptable” and confirmed that a high-level security coordination team had been deployed to the area. The team includes senior security advisers and officers tasked with directing ground operations.
As part of the response, the government disclosed that the Nigerian Army’s 148 Battalion was deployed to the affected community to support ongoing operations. The deployment forms part of a joint effort involving the police, army, Amotekun Corps, vigilantes, and local hunters conducting bush-combing and surveillance activities across suspected escape routes.
Police authorities in Ekiti State confirmed that a full-scale manhunt has been launched to track down the attackers and rescue abducted victims. Security forces are currently combing surrounding forests believed to be used as escape and hideout routes.
Authorities also stated that the operation includes intelligence gathering, community engagement, and increased patrols around vulnerable rural areas, particularly locations close to forest belts where attackers are believed to have retreated.
No official arrest has been confirmed at the time of reporting, and the exact number of abducted worshippers has not yet been publicly established. Police said investigations are ongoing and updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.
The attack has prompted renewed security alerts across Ekiti State, with government officials urging residents to remain calm and support security agencies with credible information that could assist ongoing operations.
Religious gatherings in rural areas have also come under increased security advisories, with authorities emphasizing the need for coordination between communities and security operatives during large or late-night services.
The incident adds to a pattern of attacks on places of worship in parts of Nigeria’s south-west and north-central regions in recent years, prompting intensified multi-agency security responses involving both military and civilian security formations.
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