The Kogi State Government has confirmed an early Sunday morning attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area.
In a statement issued from Lokoja, Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, condemned the assault, describing it as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”
According to the statement, gunmen stormed the church, abducting the pastor, known as Orlando, his wife, and several worshippers. Earlier reports from SaharaReporters noted that the attackers forcibly took the victims during the raid.
Footage obtained by SaharaReporters shows the interior of the church in chaos, with shoes and Bibles scattered across the floor where congregants had been seated. In the video, the person filming the scene detailed the abduction and pleaded for urgent help to rescue the victims.
The attack has left Ejiba residents in shock and renewed fears about the increasing insecurity in the region.
Commissioner Fanwo described the incident as unfortunate and said efforts are underway to ensure the safe return of all those kidnapped.
“Those who carried out this attack were likely hiding within the community or in nearby bushes for several days,” Fanwo said.
“Some villagers may have seen them but did not raise the alarm. When strange faces appear in these times, it’s crucial to report them—otherwise, more lives could be at risk.”
He warned against holding services in isolated locations without adequate security, especially following recent abductions in Kwara State.
“We must all remain security-conscious and volunteer intelligence to authorities,” he added.
“Communities should avoid unsecured churches and mosques, refrain from unnecessary travel, and not disclose their movements to strangers.”
In the video obtained by SaharaReporters, a witness described the scene:
“I hid myself; this is the church where they kidnapped people. Baba Orlando, the head of this church, was taken. You can see the interior—they didn’t even turn off the speaker or anything.”
The incident reflects a disturbing trend of violent attacks targeting places of worship and local communities in Kogi and other states, raising urgent calls for stronger security measures.
For example, on November 18, 2025, bandits attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Oke-Isegun, Eruku, Kwara State during a service. They opened fire, killing at least five people, and abducted 38 worshippers, including women, children, and elderly members.
The incident caused widespread fear, with victims ranging from seven to sixty-four years old. Reports indicated kidnappers initially demanded ransoms of up to N100 million per person, later reduced to N20 million each.
Following coordinated efforts by security agencies—including the police, DSS, and NIA—all 38 abducted worshippers were released on November 23, 2025, as announced by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
