The Ekiti State Government has intensified efforts to track down gunmen who attacked a church in Eda Oniyo community, activating a full-scale surveillance operation in the area as security agencies continue a coordinated manhunt.

The assailants had on Tuesday evening stormed a Christ Apostolic Church during a vigil service in the border community with Kwara State, killing the pastor and abducting about 15 worshippers into a nearby forest.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, disclosed that the government had directed the immediate deployment of the 148 Battalion of the Nigerian Army to the area to reinforce security and support ongoing operations.

He said surveillance measures had been strengthened to monitor the environment, track the perpetrators, and prevent further attacks.

Olatunbosun added that security operatives were actively engaged in search-and-rescue efforts aimed at securing the safe return of the abducted victims.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 17, Ajani Omolabi, visited the affected community alongside the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, where they assured residents of intensified operations to apprehend the attackers.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, confirmed that a joint security operation involving the police, military, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Police Mobile Force, and local vigilantes was ongoing.

He said the police authorities had pledged to work round the clock to secure the release of the abductees and bring those responsible to justice.

Earlier, the state government had dispatched a high-level security delegation led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts on the ground.

The delegation met with security operatives, including personnel of the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, and local vigilante groups, to strengthen collaboration in tackling the threat.

Condemning the attack, the government described the incident as heinous and unacceptable, extending condolences to the families of the victims.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, vowing that all necessary measures would be taken to rescue the abducted persons and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.