I received with profound sorrow, righteous indignation, and a heavy spiritual burden the deeply disturbing report of the brutal killing of a Christ Apostolic Church pastor and the abduction of worshippers in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, Ekiti State, during a church programme.
This tragedy is not an isolated incident. It has happened before, and tragically, it is happening again.
As the General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church (Nigeria and Overseas), and as a servant of the Gospel entrusted with the spiritual and moral conscience of the Church, I unequivocally condemn this evil, barbaric, and sacrilegious act in the strongest possible terms.
AN ATTACK ON THE CHURCH IS AN ATTACK ON THE NATION
When armed men invade a place of worship, murder a pastor at the altar, and abduct innocent worshippers, this constitutes not merely an assault on the Church, but a grave attack on the moral foundation and collective conscience of our nation. A society in which sacred spaces are violated with impunity edges dangerously towards moral and civic breakdown.
We mourn deeply the fallen pastor—a faithful servant who laid down his life in the course of sacred duty. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, the bereaved congregation, and the wider Christian community in Ekiti State. We pray earnestly for the immediate and safe rescue of all abducted worshippers.
A DANGEROUS PATTERN THAT MUST NOT BE NORMALISED
This incident reinforces an alarming pattern of repeated attacks on church communities, particularly in vulnerable rural and semi-urban areas. The recurrence of such atrocities exposes profound gaps in security architecture and emboldens criminal elements who act without fear of consequence.
Sympathy offered after bloodshed, without firm preventive action, is no longer sufficient. Security assurances issued after lives have been lost cannot replace proactive protection of citizens.
AN URGENT CALL TO GOVERNMENT AND SECURITY AGENCIES
I call upon the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Ekiti State Government, and all relevant security agencies to:
1. Ensure the immediate rescue of all abducted worshippers.
2. Identify, apprehend, and prosecute the perpetrators transparently.
3. Deploy sustained, intelligence-led security measures to protect religious gatherings, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Justice delayed or denied only strengthens the hands of violent offenders.
A WORD TO THE CHURCH
To the body of Christ, I urge prayer without ceasing, vigilance without fear, and wisdom without compromise. The Church must not retreat, yet we must remain discerning and prepared. Faith does not negate responsibility; rather, it strengthens it.
OUR PROPHETIC STAND
The Church will not be silenced. The altar will not be abandoned. The Gospel will not retreat.
However, the nation must rise decisively to safeguard its citizens, its clergy, and the sanctity of its places of worship. This moment demands courage, accountability, and action.
May God comfort the bereaved, expose and confound the perpetrators, secure the release of the captive, and restore peace to Ekiti State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
*Prof. Ojo Emmanuel Ademola is the General Evangelist, Christ Apostolic Church (Nigeria and Overseas)