Gunmen storm church crusade in Ekiti, kill pastor, abduct worshippers

Panic and chaos gripped residents of Eda Oniyo Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area on Tuesday evening after suspected gunmen invaded a church during an open-air crusade, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers.

According to sources within the community, the attackers, said to be heavily armed, stormed the crusade ground located on the outskirts of the town while the religious gathering was ongoing. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants opened fire, causing panic as worshippers fled in different directions for safety.

Eyewitness accounts said the assailants arrived in large numbers and targeted the gathering, abducting multiple worshippers, including elderly persons and children.

“The gunmen invaded the church programme, shot the pastor, and took several people away,” a source said, adding that the incident has thrown the community into panic.

While the exact number of abducted victims remains unclear, a senior government official confirmed the attack, noting that security operatives have been deployed and are currently trailing the perpetrators.

Authorities expressed optimism that the victims would be rescued, although there has been no official statement yet from the Nigeria Police Force, as efforts to reach the command’s spokesperson proved unsuccessful.

The attack adds to growing security concerns in parts of the country, particularly in rural communities where armed groups have increasingly targeted places of worship and public gatherings.