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BREAKING: Gunmen attack church in Ekiti, kill pastor, abduct worshippers during crusade

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Panic gripped Eda Oniyo community in Ilejemeje LGA of Ekiti State on Tuesday evening after armed men invaded an open-air church crusade, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the outskirts of the community in large numbers and opened fire on worshippers who were gathered for a religious programme.

One resident described the scene as chaotic, saying the gunmen operated freely for several minutes before escaping into a nearby 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 source said.

The sources said, “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.

A top government official and member of the state’s security committee who spoke under anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, confirmed the attack.

The source said that security operatives had already been deployed to the area and were on the trail of the attackers, expressing confidence that the victims would be rescued unharmed.

“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.

Efforts to get the police to react to the incident were proved as calls and messages sent to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, were unanswered.

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