Former presidential candidate and energy expert, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has strongly denounced the deadly attack on a church in Ekiti State, which left a pastor dead and several worshippers kidnapped.
The incident occurred at Christ Apostolic Church No. 2 in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area, where armed attackers—reportedly about seven in number—invaded a revival service around 7:30 p.m. The assailants opened fire, killing the visiting pastor and abducting at least 13 congregants.
Eyewitnesses said the assault lasted close to 40 minutes, sending residents into panic as many fled for safety.
In a statement released on Friday, Olawepo-Hashim described the attack as tragic and deeply troubling. He expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, while also offering condolences to the church and the affected community.
He raised concerns over reports of delayed security response despite distress calls during the incident, suggesting that quicker intervention might have reduced the scale of the tragedy.
While acknowledging ongoing rescue efforts by security forces searching nearby forests, he stressed the importance of adopting more proactive, intelligence-based strategies to address insecurity.
Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that communities should not be left vulnerable to criminal elements, insisting that places of worship must remain safe havens rather than targets of violence.
He called on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of those abducted and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
He also urged authorities at all levels to strengthen local security systems, improve rapid response capabilities, and restore public confidence in the protection of lives and property.
The attack has further heightened concerns over growing insecurity in rural areas, especially across parts of the South-West and Northern Nigeria, where incidents of kidnapping and violent attacks have continued to rise.
Meanwhile, residents of Eda Oniyo remain in fear as security operatives continue search operations in surrounding areas to locate the kidnapped victims.