No fewer than 15 worshippers have been kidnapped at a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda-Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, by gunmen who also killed a visiting pastor and revivalist, Pastor Aregbe.
The Oba of the town, the Eleda of Edaoniyo-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Awolola, said the kidnappers, who abducted 15 of the worshippers, are demanding N1 billion as ransom from the community to set the people free.
One of the Obas, Oba Bamidele Olaniran, warned the police in the state to be discreet when conducting rescue operations, alleging that there were informants in the community.
The Chairman of the local government council, Hon. Pius Alaba, said about 13 people or more were kidnapped during the vigil.
The Chairman said messages were sent to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to urge churches to stop all forms of vigils due to the security situation in the country.
Ekiti State Governor’s delegation led by the Special Adviser on Security, Brig. Gen.Ebenezer Ogundana, while sympathising with the people of the community, disclosed that the state had commenced bush combing around the community to prevent incursion from neighbouring states of Kogi and Kwara.
Ogundana assured that the government would apprehend the kidnappers and bring them to book.
“The government will also rescue the worshipers as the security agencies, the army, police, and Amotekun corps are around the bushes, tracing the kidnappers,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Falade Micheal, said three shells of AK-47 were recovered at the scene of the incident.
Blood stains were also seen on the floor at the vigil ground.
CAN demands rescue of abducted worshippers
Meanwhile, the CAN has condemned the killing of the pastor and the abduction of worshippers, urging swift government intervention to rescue the victims and strengthen security in vulnerable communities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh described the incident as “deeply disturbing, to say the least.”
The association strongly denounced the incident, describing it as an assault on both faith and humanity.
“This is not just an attack on a church; it is a brutal assault on our shared humanity and the sanctity of life,” it said.
It also demanded urgent efforts to secure the release of those abducted.
CAN called on the government and security agencies to take immediate and decisive action, insisting that the protection of citizens is a fundamental responsibility of the state.
DAILY TRUST.
