The Kogi State Government has launched combined aerial and ground operations following an attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area.
Video footage posted on Facebook by Egbe Emekun Parrot, credited to Olusegun Iselaiye, shows a state-deployed helicopter and an anti-kidnapping unit actively combing the area in search of the assailants.
During the attack, the church pastor, popularly known as Orlando, along with an unconfirmed number of worshippers, were reportedly abducted. The incident, which occurred earlier on November 30, 2025, has heightened anxiety among residents and intensified security concerns in the region.
SaharaReporters learned that authorities are working to track the perpetrators and ensure the safe release of the victims.
Earlier reports highlighted video footage from Ejiba showing the aftermath of the violent raid. The footage captured the church interior in disarray, with congregants’ shoes and Bibles left scattered where they had been seated.
In the video, a witness described the abduction while appealing for help.
“I hid myself; this is the church where people were kidnapped. You can see the interior. Please save us. Baba Orlando, the head of the church, was abducted. They didn’t even turn off the speaker,” the witness said in Yoruba.
The incident reflects a growing trend of attacks on places of worship in Kogi State and other parts of the country, prompting calls for enhanced security measures.
For context, on November 18, 2025, bandits attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Oke-Isegun, Eruku, Kwara State during a service. The gunmen opened fire, killing at least five people, before abducting 38 worshippers—including women, children, and elderly congregants.
The attack caused widespread fear in the Eruku community. Of the abducted, 30 were women aged between seven and sixty-four. Initial reports indicated ransom demands of up to N100 million per person, later reduced to around N20 million each.
Following days of tension, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed on November 23, 2025, that all 38 worshippers had been released, thanks to coordinated efforts by the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
