Gunmen on Tuesday evening attacked a church during an open-air crusade in Eda Oniyo, located in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers.

According to reports from community sources, the assailants, described as heavily armed, stormed the crusade ground on the outskirts of the town and opened fire. The attackers reportedly operated for several minutes before fleeing into a nearby forest with their victims.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that multiple worshippers, including elderly individuals and children, were taken during the attack. “Some gunmen invaded a church programme this evening and abducted several worshippers,” a local source said. “They shot the pastor and took others into the forest. The attackers came in large numbers and were heavily armed.”

The exact number of casualties and abductees has not yet been confirmed, but the incident has caused widespread panic in the community.

A senior government official and member of the state’s security committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the attack and said security operatives had been deployed to the area. The official added that efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and secure the release of the victims.

“Yes, some worshippers were kidnapped in Eda Oniyo today. Security agencies have been mobilised and are currently on the trail of the attackers,” the official said.

Attempts to obtain an official response from the Nigeria Police Force were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.