From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has lambasted the government over rising insecurity in the country, particularly the consistent attacks on churches and other places of worship.
CAN specifically expressed concern over the recent attacks on a church gathering in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, where gunmen reportedly killed a pastor and abducted several worshippers during an open-air crusade.
It said the attack further heightened concerns about the safety of lives and the protection of communities, stressing that no one should have to live in fear and no place of worship must ever become a hunting ground for criminals.
Gunmen on Tuesday night stormed a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers during a church programme.
The attack, which occurred about 8:30pm has thrown the community into panic as residents grapple with renewed fears over rising insecurity in the area.
Witnesses said the armed attackers arrived in large numbers and invaded the church on the outskirts of the town, while the service was ongoing. The pastor was shot dead on the spot, while worshippers were whisked away into a nearby forest.
One community source, who spoke anonymously for security reasons, said the exact number of abducted victims was still being verified as families tried to account for those missing.
“The were many attackers. They killed the pastor and took some worshippers. We are still trying to confirm how many were taken. The whole community is in panic,” the source said.
Confirming the incident yesterday, the Ekiti State Police Command said it had launched a rescue operation to locate and free the abducted worshippers.
Police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered a full-scale investigation and manhunt for the attackers.
He added that combined teams of security agencies, including soldiers, local vigilantes and community hunters, had begun bush-combing operations across suspected escape routes.
The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement, yesterday, said the invasion was not just an attack on a church but a brutal assault on the shared humanity and the sanctity of life.
He said: “This is deeply disturbing to say the least. We condemn this heinous act. Why would people gather peacefully to worship God and they are met with violence?
“We mourn with the family of the slain pastor and stand in full solidarity with the victims and the entire Christian community in Ekiti State. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been taken and we call for their immediate and safe release.”
He urged the government to immediately strengthen security presence, especially in vulnerable and rural communities and to deploy proactive intelligence measures to prevent further attacks.
He added: “We must be unequivocal. The protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of the government. Hence, we call on the authorities and security agencies to act swiftly, decisively and transparently. Those responsible for this atrocity must be apprehended and brought to justice without delay. Every necessary effort must be made to rescue those abducted unharmed.
“We must all speak out firmly. The killing of a pastor and the abduction of worshippers gathered to commune with their Creator is deeply troubling. It reflects a grave disregard for life, faith and the moral fabric of our society.
“We have a duty to communicate these concerns clearly, firmly and without equivocation to the appropriate authorities. Nigeria must not normalise the killing of worshippers or the abduction of innocent citizens in places of refuge.”
