Following the last Tuesday attack and abduction of people at the Christ Apostolic Church, Eda Oniyo Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, All the Churches in the Community on Sunday suspended their activities, as residents stayed indoors to mourn the Pastor killed and solidarise with those abducted in the attack.
The Journalists who went to the Community reported that, some of the affected families are still counting their losses following the attack, where two Octogenarians, two nursing mothers with their babies, another Child and women within their prime ages were reportedly kidnapped.
Some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of those abducted during the incident.
The Church was reportedly attacked by bandits around quarter to seven in the evening and killed a Presiding Pastor at a Special Revival Programme
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has assured residents of government zero tolerance to any act of terror, senseless killings and abduction of citizens with a promise bring perpetrators to justice.
Governor Oyebanji gave the assurance when he visited Eda Oniyo Ekiti to sympathize with the community on the recent invasion.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, Governor Oyebanji said his government has been responding swiftly and proactively to issues of security and safety with all seriousness through synergy with security agencies.
He said measures had been put in place to ensure that Ekiti State was not a safe haven for terrorists and other criminals.
While expressed sadness over the gory incident that led to the death of a pastor and kidnap of sixteen people, Governor Oyebanji promised his government commitment to ensure safety of all citizens.
The Governor appealed to christians in Eda-Oniyo and Ilejemeje communities to comply with the suspension of vigil programmes until matters relating to security issues were resolved, saying this forms part of the strategies to curb insecurity in the town.
Governor Oyebanji urged the community to look inwards and purge themselves of criminal elements, saying internal collusion with criminals, is fuelling invasion of the community.
In his remarks, the Eleda of Eda-Oniyo, Oba Johnson Awolola, said only the government timely intervention could resolve the problem of abduction and killing in the community, saying the security of the entire local government should be tight and water forced being located in the Kwara State’s border area.
“The government should look into our case. We are suffering here This is not the first time kidnapping and killing will occur. But it is becoming recurrent and we are really sad about it”, the monarch lamented.
Speaking about the efforts made by the community to stem the tide of insecurity, the Chairman, Eda-Oniyo Progressive Union, Dr. Rufus Ajayi, said the town had embarked on the building of a Police Station along Eda Oniyo and Obbo Ayegunle border post, as part of the measures to ensure security of lives and property.
Dr Ajayi appealed to the government to help in the completion of the Police Post and to as well erect a Military Post at the said border to reinforce security in the town.