Pastor Killed, 15 Worshippers Kidnapped in Ekiti Church Attack — Abductors Demand ₦1bn Ransom

Gunmen stormed a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda-Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Tuesday night, killing a visiting pastor and abducting at least 15 worshippers during what was supposed to be a revival programme. The kidnappers are now demanding a ₦1 billion ransom.

The attack happened on the evening of April 28. Armed men arrived at the open-air church service on the outskirts of the town, opened fire on the congregation, killed the presiding pastor — who had come in for the revival — and dragged an unspecified number of worshippers into the surrounding forest.

Community in Fear

The Eleda of Eda-Oniyo, Oba Joseph Awolola, confirmed the ransom demand publicly. “The abductors are demanding ₦1 billion ransom to secure the release of the worshippers. This has thrown the entire town into fear,” he said.

Eyewitnesses described attackers who came in large numbers and were heavily armed. Among the abducted were elderly persons and children. Most residents remained indoors through the night.

The Chairman of Ilejemeje LGA, Hon. Pius Alaba, confirmed the 15-person figure and noted that warnings had already been issued to religious bodies in the area. “Before now, we had engaged the Christian Association of Nigeria and advised that vigils and late-night religious programmes be suspended due to the security situation,” he said.

Government Response

Governor Biodun Oyebanji, through his Special Adviser on Security, Brig.-Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd), said security agencies were actively combing the forests. The army, police, and Amotekun Corps were all deployed. According to the governor’s office, sustained bush-combing operations had been underway in border communities for the past three weeks, targeting incursion routes from Kogi and Kwara states.

Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, confirmed that police had earlier patrolled the area before the attack.

The Bigger Picture

Traditional rulers in the Ilejemeje area have called on the state government to impose time limits on night religious gatherings — suggesting no activities beyond 6:00 p.m. One monarch, Oba Bamidele Adetutu Ajayi, warned that information leaks from within communities may be helping criminal elements plan their attacks.

That a church in a rural Ekiti community can be raided, its pastor killed, and 15 people taken hostage — with a ₦1 billion ransom demand attached — says something stark about the security situation across southwestern Nigeria. Ekiti is not the North-west. It is not a conflict zone by any established measure. Yet here we are.

Sources: Arise News, Legit.ng, Gazette Nigeria