Armed Bandits Attack ECWA Church, Abduct 20 Worshippers In Kogi

Fear and tension gripped parts of Kogi State following a string of violent attacks by suspected bandits on Sunday, during which more than 20 worshippers were abducted from the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu local government area of the State.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen invaded the church while the service was ongoing, firing sporadically to scare congregants before whisking away several members. One person, identified as Jay Jay, was reportedly shot dead during the chaos as panicked worshippers fled for safety.

“The attackers came suddenly and started shooting. People ran in different directions, but they seized many who couldn’t escape,” said a resident who declined to be named for security reasons.

The same group of armed men were said to have launched coordinated assaults on Oke-Agi and Ilai communities in the neighbouring Mopamuro local government area on the same day, killing three people and abducting several others, including a pregnant woman.

The incident threw the affected communities into panic, with locals expressing growing frustration and fear over the worsening insecurity in the region.

The chairman of Mopamuro Local Government Area, Zaccheus Dare Michael, condemned the attack and blamed the church for holding a service despite warnings about the prevailing security threats.

“It was not advisable for the church to open for worship in such a volatile situation,” he said, adding that he had taken “precautionary measures” to shut down all markets in the area to prevent further attacks or mass abductions.

The incident marked the second attack on a church in Okun land within weeks, raising alarm over the safety of worshippers across the area.

On November 30, 2025, gunmen stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of the State, abducting a cleric identified as Orlando and about 13 worshippers during a night service. The attackers reportedly demanded ₦500 million ransom, later reducing it to ₦200 million with a two-day ultimatum and threats of “dire consequences.”

Residents also recalled that Ayetoro Kiri had suffered a similar assault barely three weeks ago when armed men attempted to attack a local school. On that occasion, members of the community vigilante group repelled the attack, preventing casualties or abductions.

The recurring violence has deepened public concern over Kogi’s deteriorating security situation, with calls intensifying for both state and federal authorities to strengthen security presence and intelligence coordination across rural communities.

“We no longer sleep with our eyes closed,” another resident lamented. “Churches, schools, and even markets are no longer safe. Something urgent must be done.”