Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested four indigenes of Eda-Oniyo community in Ekiti State in connection with the abduction of 16 worshippers from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) on 28 April 2026. According to multiple sources, one of the suspects is a former member of the Amotekun Corps, the South-West regional security network, who had been suspended prior to the arrest for conduct capable of tarnishing the outfit's image.
The abduction occurred when heavily armed gunmen stormed an open-air crusade at CAC Number Two, Oke Igbala, in Eda-Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area. The assailants shot and killed the presiding pastor before marching 16 worshippers, including women and children, into a nearby forest. The victims were held captive for more than two months, with the community reportedly paying a ransom of ₦10.5 million in a desperate bid to secure their release. Fourteen of the abducted worshippers regained their freedom on 3 July 2026, while an 82-year-old woman died in captivity.
Security sources confirmed that the DSS conducted the arrests on Thursday, 10 July 2026, following weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated operations. The suspects, all natives of Eda-Oniyo, are believed to have played significant roles in planning and executing the mass abduction. One of those arrested is a former Amotekun operative who was suspended months earlier after authorities allegedly discovered his involvement in activities that could damage the reputation of the security outfit.
The arrests have been welcomed by residents of Eda-Oniyo, who have endured months of fear and uncertainty following the attack. Many expressed hope that justice would be served and that the arrests would help prevent similar incidents in the future. However, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Mr Pius Alaba Dada, told Radio Nigeria that he had only heard reports circulating on social media and had not received any official confirmation from security agencies. “I have only heard the rumours, but no security agency has officially confirmed the arrests to me. Therefore, I cannot comment on the matter,” he said.
As of the time of this report, the DSS had not issued a detailed official statement on the development, and the identities of the arrested suspects have not been released. Investigations are ongoing, with security agencies intensifying efforts to identify and apprehend other individuals linked to the crime. The arrests mark a significant step in the long-running effort to bring the perpetrators of the Eda-Oniyo church attack to justice.
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