Suspected bandits attacked a church in Ejiba community, in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting a pastor, his wife and several worshipers.
The incident occurred during a church service at a new Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
A witness, Adegboyega Oguns, who was present at the church, said congregants fled in panic as the attackers struck.
Oguns reported that the church pastor, popularly known as Orlando, his wife, and several other individuals were abducted during the raid.
“It’s a new Cherubim and Seraphim church. The pastor popularly called Orlando and wife with some others have been kidnapped,” he said.
“It is serious, we all ran out of church.”
The Kogi State Government confirmed the abduction, saying it has intensified surveillance and patrols, and launched a manhunt for the kidnappers.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, who disclosed this in a statement urge our people to be vigilant and report suspicious movement to security agencies.
“I can confirm that our security network which comprises the conventional security, vigilante and the hunters are currently on their trail. We will get our people back,” he said.
“The Governor has been fully briefed and the State Security Adviser is coordinating with security agencies to ensure we secure their release.
“On the Ejiba Church attack, the State Government is also doing what is necessary, coordinating with local security architecture. We won’t give details of what is being done. But we want to assure all that the life of every Kogite matters.
“We also want to urge our people to be vigilant and report suspicious movement and faces to security agencies. Churches located in the outskirts should also be extraordinarily careful as they could be soft targets.
“Sole services can take place online so that we understand ourselves during this period that we are working hard to get these criminals out of our state. Wisdom is profitable to direct.
“We have to be alive to worship God. God doesn’t encourage us to take unnecessary risks. Let us do the right things at the right time and at the right places. It won’t be like this for long. We are winning the battle.”