Panic broke out in Eda Oniyo, Ekiti State, on Tuesday evening when suspected gunmen stormed a church during an open-air crusade in Ilejemeje Local Government Area.
Vanguard gathered that the armed men invaded the crusade ground on the outskirts of the community in large numbers, opened fire, killed a pastor and abducted several worshippers.
Sources in the community said the attackers operated for several minutes before fleeing into the forest with their victims.
“This evening, some gunmen invaded a church around the outskirts of Eda Oniyo during a church programme. They abducted several worshippers, including elderly persons and children.
“They shot the pastor and took the worshippers into the forest. The attackers came in large numbers and were heavily armed.”
The exact number of people kidnapped was not confirmed at the time, but the incident has thrown the community into serious panic.
A government official and member of the state security committee, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the attack.
“Yes, some worshippers were kidnapped in Eda Oniyo today, but security agencies are involved. The government has deployed security operatives to the area and they are already on the trail of the attackers,” the source said.
Security operatives have since been deployed to the area as efforts continue to track down the gunmen and rescue the victims.
