Bandits Storm Kogi Church, Kidnap Pastor, Wife, and Worshippers During Service

Gunmen suspected to be bandits launched a brazen attack on a church in the Ejiba community, Yagba
West Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State, on Sunday morning, abducting the pastor, his wife,
and several worshippers.
The attack, which occurred during the early hours of Sunday service at a newly established Cherubim
and Seraphim Church, has thrown the community into palpable fear and heightened concerns over
escalating insecurity in the North-Central region.
Eyewitnesses recounted a terrifying scene as the armed assailants stormed the church premises. The
sudden eruption of gunfire forced congregants to scatter and flee for safety, resulting in widespread
panic.

Sources confirmed that the attackers successfully whisked away the church leader, popularly identified
as Pastor “Orlando,” along with his wife and an unspecified number of church members. The bandits
reportedly marched the abductees into the nearby bush.
An eyewitness, Adegboyega Oguns, described the chaos on a community news platform, stating, “It is
serious, we all ran out of church.” Footage later emerging from the scene reportedly showed the church
interior in disarray, with bibles and personal belongings left behind.

The Kogi State Government officially confirmed the incident late Sunday, strongly condemning the act of
violence. Kingsley Fanwo, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, confirmed that
the government had mobilised significant resources to ensure the safe rescue of all victims.
“The state’s security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security
architecture, are currently doing what they should do,” Mr. Fanwo stated. He confirmed the deployment
of anti-kidnapping squads and aerial surveillance teams, including a helicopter, to comb the surrounding
bushes and track the perpetrators.

While the exact number of individuals abducted remains unconfirmed as security agencies carry out
their findings, the state government assured the public that all necessary measures were being taken in
collaboration with the Yagba West Local Government authorities.
The Ejiba attack comes barely two weeks after a similar incident on November 18, where bandits
abducted several worshippers from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku community, a border town
with Kogi in Kwara State
Although all those victims were eventually rescued, the repetitive nature of the attacks signals a
dangerous trend targeting places of worship in the region.

In light of the incident, Commissioner Fanwo urged the public to exercise maximum vigilance and
cooperate with law enforcement. He also issued a stark warning to religious bodies operating in isolated
or high-risk zones.
“Worship Centres in the outskirts should also reconsider worshipping in crime-prone areas for now until
the situation gets better,” he advised, emphasizing the need for citizens to “be security-conscious and
also report suspicious movements and faces to security agencies. When you see something, say
something.”

Security operations are currently ongoing in and around the Ejiba community as authorities race against
time to secure the freedom of Pastor Orlando, his wife, and the remaining abducted worshippers.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

thewyreng