Terrorists attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo, in the Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Tuesday evening.
They shot the presiding pastor dead and took several worshippers away into a nearby forest.
The incident happened around 8:30 pm while members held an open-air programme on the outskirts of the town.
Eyewitnesses said the terrorists arrived in numbers, opened fire on the congregation, and left with an unknown number of people, including elderly worshippers and children.
Residents in the community now live in fear as families check on their loved ones and count those still missing.
Police in Ekiti State have confirmed the event.
The command says officers, together with the Nigerian Army and Amotekun network, have started operations to find the terrorists and bring the captives back safely.
So far, no one has released exact details about how many people the terrorists took or whether they have made any demands.
Security teams continue to comb the surrounding bush areas.
This latest event adds to worries about safety in parts of southwest Nigeria, where such incidents have become more common in recent times.
Local leaders and residents hope the joint search will yield quick results and prevent further harm in the area.
Authorities urge anyone with useful information to come forward and support the ongoing efforts.
