The Ekiti State Government has suspended night religious gatherings across Eda Oniyo-Ekiti and its environs as part of urgent security measures following last week’s gunmen invasion of the community.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji announced the directive during a sympathy visit to Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area on Sunday, in the wake of an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church that left a pastor dead and 16 worshippers abducted, who are yet to be released as of Sunday.
Represented by his deputy, Monisade Afuye, the governor said the temporary halt on vigil and late-night religious programmes was a strategic response to rising insecurity in the border community.
“Let us suspend vigil for now and hold all religious activities during the day. This is not to stop anyone from practising their religion, but to safeguard lives at this critical time,” the governor said.
Oyebanji assured residents that the government would not tolerate acts of terror, kidnapping, or senseless killings, pledging intensified collaboration with security agencies to rescue the kidnapped victims and secure the state.
He said the administration was already working on new strategies to curb cross-border criminal activities, particularly in communities sharing boundaries with Kwara, Osun, and Kogi states.
The governor also raised concerns over alleged internal collaboration aiding criminal operations, urging residents to expose informants and resist shielding perpetrators.
He further assured the community that efforts were underway to strengthen security infrastructure, including the establishment of a police station and military post in the area.
Traditional ruler of the town, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, described the incident as traumatic and appealed for urgent government intervention, noting that cases of abduction and killings had become recurrent.
Similarly, Chairman of the Eda Oniyo Progressive Union, Dr. Rufus Ajayi, disclosed that the community had begun constructing a police post at the Eda Oniyo–Obbo Ayegunle border, seeking government support for its completion and the deployment of military personnel.
He lamented that the abducted victims remained in captivity six days after the incident, stressing the urgency of government intervention.