By Stephen Adeyinka, Ado Ekiti
Wednesday April 29, 2026
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The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Wole Oluyede, has sympathized with the people of Eda-Oniyo and Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the state over the attack on church programme that claimed the life of a pastor.
In a statement on Wednesday, Oluyede condemned the attack, saying his heart was with the bereaved.
“It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that Team Wole Oluyede receives the news of the horrific attack that occurred yesterday (Tuesday) in Eda-Oniyo.
“The loss of a devout pastor and the abduction of worshippers and citizens seeking peace and spiritual solace is a senseless tragedy that strikes at the very heart of our humanity.
“We extend our sincerest condolences to the family of the bereaved cleric, the affected congregation, and the traditional leadership of Eda-Oniyo.
“No words can adequately heal the pain of such a ‘dreadful incident,’ but please, know that our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and those still waiting for the safe return of their loved ones.
“In this moment of darkness, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ilejemeje. Your grief is our grief, and your safety remains our collective priority.” He said.
He also announced temporary suspension of campaign activities.
“As a mark of respect for the victims and as a demonstration of our genuine concern for the security and well-being of our people, Team Wole Oluyede will step down all campaign activities for the next 24 hours.
“Politics must always take a backseat to human life and communal peace. We believe this ‘ugly concurrency’ demands a moment of silence, reflection, and a unified call for stronger security measures to protect our towns and villages,” he said.
Recall that gunmen numbering about five attacked a church in a prayer programme, killing the pastor and abducting several worshippers at about 10.30pm on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu has confirmed the incident.
Abutu said “Preliminary investigations indicate that about five armed men stormed the prayer ground, fatally shot the pastor and whisked away some members of the congregation”, adding that this happened 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday
“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.
“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 said.
Calling on anyone with useful information to contact the police through the emergency number 08062335577 for prompt response, Abutu also advised religious leaders to comply with existing state directives requiring prior notification to security agencies before holding late-night gatherings.
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