The House of Representatives has issued an urgent directive to national security agencies to prioritize the immediate rescue of worshippers abducted during a brutal attack on a church crusade in Ekiti State. The resolution, adopted during Wednesday’s plenary session, follows a motion of urgent public importance moved by Kolawole Akinlayo, the representative for Ekiti North Federal Constituency. Lawmakers expressed deep condemnation of the assault, which resulted in the death of a pastor and the mass kidnapping of congregants in Eda Oniyo, a community within the Ilejemeje Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on April 28, 2026, when armed assailants invaded an evening church crusade, firing indiscriminately at worshippers. According to reports presented to the House, the gunmen operated with sophisticated weaponry for several minutes before retreating into the forest with their captives, which included children, women, and the elderly. Despite the community’s desperate efforts to secure the release of their loved ones by raising and paying a ransom of ₦10.5 million following an initial demand of ₦1 billion that was later reduced to ₦50 million the victims remain in the hands of their abductors.
In their deliberations, lawmakers highlighted that this attack is a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of worship and serves as a grim indicator of the growing boldness of criminal elements in rural areas. The House acknowledged the initial response from the Ekiti State Government and local security operatives, but emphasized that significantly more must be done. They argued that the persistent security vulnerabilities in rural communities require a more aggressive, intelligence-driven approach to dismantle the criminal networks that exploit forest corridors to carry out such operations.
As part of its formal resolutions, the House mandated the Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs, and Army to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack and propose long-term preventive measures. Furthermore, the federal government has been urged to enhance the security presence in Ekiti State through improved surveillance technology and rapid response mechanisms. The lawmakers also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide necessary relief and humanitarian support to the families of those affected by the tragedy.
The Eda Oniyo incident is part of a broader wave of insecurity affecting communities in the South-West, where concerns continue to mount regarding kidnappings and attacks on remote settlements. For the residents of the affected community, the focus remains firmly on the safe return of the remaining hostages. The House concluded the session by reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that the nation’s security architecture is adequately equipped to protect citizens’ lives and their right to worship safely.
