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Gunmen Kill Pastor, Kidnap Worshippers in Ekiti Church Attack

April 29, 2026 by admin

Gunmen on Tuesday night stormed a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, located in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting an unspecified number of worshippers. The attack, which occurred around 8.30 pm during a church programme, has thrown the community into panic, with residents expressing fears over rising insecurity in the area. Sources in the community said the assailants, who were armed and arrived in numbers, stormed the church located on the outskirts of the town, shot the pastor dead and whisked away several worshippers into a nearby forest. One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said efforts were ongoing to determine the exact number of abducted victims. “The invaders were many. They killed the pastor and took away some worshippers. We cannot say the number yet. Moves to collate those who are missing have begun. The community is in a panic mode for now,” the source said. Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Ekiti State Police Command said it had launched a rescue operation to secure the release of the abducted victims. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered a thorough investigation and a manhunt for the perpetrators. “The Police in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, the Agro Marshal, the Vigilantes and the local hunters have commenced an aggressive bush combing operations and a serious manhunt on the perpetrators in order to ensure the rescue of the victims and the arrest and prosecution of the culprits,” Abutu said. He added that the police were working to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible. “The commissioner of Police calls for calm as necessary steps are currently being taken to salvage the situation and forestall recurrence. “Members of the public are charged to be security conscious, vigilant and promptly report any suspicious person or group of persons found within their environments to the police and other security agencies for necessary proactive actions,” he added. Abutu also advised religious leaders to notify the police before organising late-night gatherings to enable adequate security arrangements.

Hoodlums Attack Anambra Church, Kill Two

December 8, 2025 by admin

Some yet-to-be-ascertained armed assailants have attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing two persons, burning vehicles and the cleric’s apartment. Our correspondent, who visited the church premises on Monday, gathered that the wife of the priest of the church was among the two persons killed, while some parts of the church building were also burnt. The premises and environs appeared deserted, while some properties were seen littering the place. Some eyewitnesses and residents in the area confirmed to PUNCH Online that the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, disrupted church activities and sent panic in the area. One of the sources said, “A brutal attack occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala LGA in the early hours of Sunday. “The heavily armed hoodlums invaded the church as worshippers were getting ready for Sunday activity and started shooting, setting properties on the church premises, including buildings, ablaze. “Unfortunately, they brutally murdered the wife of the church priest and one other person. They also injured many others, razed down the priest’s house to ashes, burnt down some church vehicles and other church properties, including a part of the main church building. He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has condemned in the strongest terms the attack in the morning of December 7, 2025, carried out by armed criminals, which resulted in the death of one person. “Some persons were inflicted with serious injuries, including the church building partially burnt, and other properties destroyed at a church premises in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state. “The CP states that this heinous and abominable act, committed against innocent worshippers, is not only an assault on the community, but a grave affront to our shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship. “The command extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the entire Lilu community and assures the public that the Police shall relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators of this crime.

Ondo Prophetess Arrested Over Mother, Child’s Death In Church

November 13, 2024 by admin

The Ondo State Police Command, on Tuesday, said it had arrested one prophetess, Mrs Folashade Adekola, over the death of a woman, Jumoke Adesuwa and her newborn baby inside the church. Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the deceased bled to death from complications after childbirth inside the suspect’s church located in the Oke-Aro area of Akure, the state capital. The baby was said to have also died immediately. It was also learnt that the suspect was arrested by the men of the command after the deceased’s brother reported the matter at the police station. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the incident, said the prophetess was arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation. “The case was reported by the deceased’s brother, that the sister died after childbirth in the church and the prophetess is already in custody. Investigations are still ongoing,” the PPRO said. A source in the family who spoke to PUNCH Metro on the condition of anonymity, because he was not permitted to speak with the media, narrated that someone from the church called the family to inform the deceased’s husband that his wife had been delivered of a baby. The deceased’s husband called a family member and both rushed to the church. He said, “When we got there, they were told that the baby died after childbirth but that the mother was alive. On sighting the deceased, we saw her in a pool of blood, bleeding profusely. So, we rushed her to a nearby hospital. “Due to her condition, she was rejected at three hospitals and she died in the process of reviving her in the last hospital that admitted her. To our surprise, we got to the church to collect the baby’s remains and found the corpse in a room. The condition of the room was very worrisome as it did not look like a delivery room. “We approached the Oke-Aro Police Station in Akure to report the case which led to the arrest of the prophetess in charge. The remains of the woman have been deposited at the mortuary.” Punch

5 Worshippers Died, Others Hospitalised For Eating ‘Feast’ In Ibadan Church

September 29, 2024 by admin

Five worshippers have been confirmed dead, while others are on admission at the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, after they took part in a feast known in Yoruba parlance as ipese organised by an Ibadan-based white-garment church. However, as of the time of filing this report on Saturday, about 50 of the worshippers had been discharged from the centre Sunday Tribune gathered that the incident happened during a service held in the church last Sunday. The feast otherwise known as ipese, as reliably informed, is part of the traditional events in conformity with the church’s doctrine. A source in the church said that it has not been established medically whether the ipese was responsible for the death of the affected victims. According to him, “I ate the prepared beans like every other member, including the victims and nothing happened to me. “The incident was not all about ‘ipese’ as made to believe. “The various organs of government, including the police, Directorate of State Services, (DSS), media organisations, World Health Organisation (WHO) have been to this place on a fact-finding mission “Their findings are yet to be made public, but I can tell you that it is not about ipese as being insinuated. “It is true that some victims are still undergoing treatment at IDC Olodo. “Also, there is no iota of truth in the rumour that the church premises have been put under lock and key. “The Shepherd-in-Charge has been attending to visitors since morning. He is taking his test. You (our correspondent) can’t see him now unless you come tomorrow during the service.” Also, a senior medical staff at IDC Olodo, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident. He said 50 of the victims that were rushed to the IDC have been treated and discharged. According to him, “Some of the affected persons were brought to the centre for treatment. As of today (Saturday), 50 of them have been discharged while others are still on admission. “The state commissioner for health is likely to address the press on the incident next week. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident. According to him, “Investigation is ongoing on the matter.”

Gunmen Kill Pastor, Kidnap Worshippers in Ekiti Church Attack

Hoodlums Attack Anambra Church, Kill Two

Ondo Prophetess Arrested Over Mother, Child’s Death In Church

5 Worshippers Died, Others Hospitalised For Eating ‘Feast’ In Ibadan Church

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