Gunmen strike Kogi church, abduct worshippers

No fewer than 20 worshippers were abducted today, December 14, 2025, when gunmen attacked the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Local sources said the assailants stormed the church during an ongoing worship service and fired sporadically into the air, causing panic among congregants. While many worshippers fled the scene, an undisclosed number were seized by the attackers, who later escaped through nearby bush paths.

The attack threw the usually peaceful community into chaos, with residents describing scenes of fear and confusion as the incident unfolded. One person, identified only as JayJay, was reportedly killed during the attack.

The abduction has further heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kogi State, where repeated attacks on rural communities and places of worship have left residents increasingly anxious and calling for stronger security measures.

Sunday’s incident marked the second attack on a church in Okun land within weeks. On November 30, 2025, armed men had stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting a cleric identified as Orlando alongside about 13 worshippers during a service.

In that incident, the attackers reportedly demanded an initial ransom of ₦500 million, later reduced to ₦200 million, and issued a two-day ultimatum to the victims’ families, warning of unspecified consequences if the demand was not met.