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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives on Wednesday called for the immediate rescue of worshippers abducted during a deadly attack on a church crusade in Ekiti State and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the assault, which claimed the life of a pastor.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo, during plenary.
The motion stemmed from the attack on April 28, 2026, when gunmen invaded an evening crusade organised by the Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State. During the attack, the assailants killed the presiding pastor and abducted 16 worshippers.
Despite negotiations and the payment of N10.5 million reportedly raised by members of the community after an initial ransom demand of N1 billion was reduced to N50 million, the victims are said to remain in captivity.
Presenting the motion, Akinlayo described the attack as a tragic illustration of the growing insecurity confronting rural communities and places of worship across the country.
According to the lawmaker, suspected armed assailants stormed the church during an open-air crusade, opened fire on worshippers and unleashed violence that left the community in mourning.
He told the House that the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and operating in large numbers, “killed a pastor and abducted several congregants, including women, elderly persons and children.”
Akinlayo further noted that “the gunmen carried out the operation for several minutes without resistance before retreating into nearby forests with their victims.”
He expressed concern that the attack had deepened fears among residents and highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by rural communities where security presence is often limited.
The lawmaker argued that beyond the immediate loss of lives and abduction of innocent citizens, the incident represented a direct assault on constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
According to him, the attack not only resulted in the loss of innocent lives but also “violated citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of worship and further eroded public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.”
The House, in its deliberations, observed that the assault underscored “persistent security vulnerabilities in rural communities and places of worship, and the growing boldness of criminal elements.”
Lawmakers, however, acknowledged the response of the Ekiti State Government and security agencies, citing the swift deployment of operatives to the affected community and ongoing efforts aimed at securing the release of those still being held by their captors.
Following the debate, the House strongly condemned the attack and expressed sympathy with the families of the victims as well as the people of Eda Oniyo community.
The lawmakers urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies to intensify coordinated operations to secure the release of the abducted worshippers and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The House also called on the Federal Government to strengthen security presence in Ekiti State and other vulnerable communities through enhanced intelligence gathering, improved surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms capable of deterring similar attacks.
As part of its resolutions, the House mandated its Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs, and Army to engage relevant security agencies, “investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.”
Lawmakers further urged the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant institutions to provide relief and support to the affected families.
The attack in Eda Oniyo is the latest in a string of violent incidents that have heightened security concerns in parts of the South-West, where communities have increasingly grappled with kidnappings, attacks on travellers and incursions into remote settlements.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that criminal groups are taking advantage of forest corridors that traverse multiple states, complicating efforts by security agencies and underscoring the need for coordinated inter-state operations.
For residents of Eda Oniyo and neighbouring communities, however, the immediate priority remains the safe return of the abducted worshippers and justice for those who lost their lives in the attack.