Residents of Eda-Oniyo Ekiti, the headquarters of Ilejemeje Local Government Area in Ekiti State, have been thrown into grief following a deadly attack by suspected bandits on a church gathering in the community.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Number Two, where worshippers had gathered for a special revival programme.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers stormed the church at about 6:45 p.m., opening fire on the congregation and causing panic among worshippers.
A visiting revivalist from Osun State, identified as Pastor Aregbe, was reportedly shot dead during the attack.
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Mr. Pius Alaba, said several people were still missing, adding that the exact number of those abducted could not yet be ascertained.
According to him, information from the pastor in charge of the church indicated that while some worshippers escaped into the surrounding bush, others were shot during the attack.
Mr. Alaba also confirmed that the corpse of the slain pastor had been deposited at the morgue.
Several other worshippers sustained varying degrees of injuries, while at least six persons have been declared missing, sparking fears that they may have been abducted by the assailants.
A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, corroborated the incident, noting that
“The entire community is in mourning. Families are still searching for their loved ones, and so far, about six people cannot be accounted for,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to release an official statement regarding the attack, while efforts to ascertain the full extent of casualties and abductions were ongoing.
