Ekiti Government Confirms Church Attack, Deploys Security Agencies for Rescue Operation in Eda Oniyo

The Ekiti State Government confirmed on Wednesday that armed men attacked a church programme in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area on Tuesday night, and said that security agencies had been deployed to the area to rescue abducted worshippers and pursue the perpetrators.

A senior government official and member of the state security committee, who spoke to journalists without authorisation to be named, confirmed that worshippers had been kidnapped during the attack. He said security operatives had already been deployed and were on the trail of the attackers. He expressed confidence that the victims would be recovered safely.

Police Commissioner Orders Manhunt

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ekiti State Police Command said Commissioner of Police Michael Falade had directed a full investigation into the incident and ordered an immediate manhunt for the attackers. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, confirmed that a joint security team had been assembled and deployed.

The team includes personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Ekiti State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps, Agro Marshals, vigilante groups, and local hunters. According to Abutu, the team commenced bush-combing operations in the area where the attackers retreated with the abducted victims.

Abutu said the Commissioner of Police called for calm and assured the public that the police were committed to securing the release of the victims and prosecuting those responsible for the attack.

LGA Chairman Confirms the Incident

The Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Alaba, confirmed the attack on Tuesday night. He noted that around 50 people had been at the programme and that many escaped during the attack. He said the exact number of abducted persons was still being determined as of his statement.

Alaba did not provide additional details on the identity of the attackers or the direction they took into the forest, saying that information was being managed by security agencies handling the active rescue operation.

What the Government Has Not Yet Said

As of Wednesday morning, the Ekiti State Government had not issued a formal statement from the Governor's office or through the state Ministry of Information on the attack. No official condolence statement naming the killed pastor had been released. The government official who spoke to journalists did so without authorisation, indicating that the formal government communication response was still being coordinated.

The absence of a named response from the highest levels of state government has been noted by residents and commentators who believe a security incident of this nature warrants a direct public statement from the governor or a senior cabinet member. Security analysts and civil society voices have called on the Ekiti State Government to communicate clearly and promptly with the public about what is being done to address the growing pattern of attacks in communities along the state's borders.

Security Background of Eda Oniyo

Eda Oniyo and the wider Ilejemeje Local Government Area sit in a part of Ekiti State that borders Kwara State. The area has experienced security tensions in the past related to boundary disputes and the movement of armed groups through forested border zones. The Ekiti State Government previously issued an order for the evacuation of non-native occupants from farmland along the Eda Oniyo border, citing security concerns. The Tuesday night church attack is the most serious incident to occur in the community in recent years.