Gunmen Abduct Over 20 Worshippers During Church Attack in Kogi Community
By Enemona Samuel Endurance
No fewer than 20 worshippers were reportedly abducted on Sunday, December 14, 2025, after armed men attacked the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Local sources said the attackers stormed the church premises while a worship session was ongoing, firing sporadically to instill fear and force congregants to flee.
Witnesses disclosed that while many worshippers escaped amid the chaos, several others were seized by the assailants, who later escaped through nearby bush paths.
The attack threw the otherwise peaceful community into panic, with residents describing scenes of confusion and distress as the gunmen carried out the operation.
The incident has further heightened concerns over deteriorating security in parts of Kogi State, particularly in rural communities and places of worship that have increasingly become targets of violent attacks.
Earlier reports by SaharaReporters indicated that one person, identified simply as JayJay, was killed during the attack, while several worshippers were abducted.
This latest assault marks the second reported attack on a church in Okun land within weeks, raising alarm among residents and worshippers across the region.
On November 30, 2025, armed men reportedly invaded 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.
The attackers in that incident were said to have initially demanded a ransom of ₦500 million, later reduced to ₦200 million, issuing a two-day ultimatum to the victims’ families and threatening unspecified consequences.
Residents also recalled that Ayetoro Kiri community was attacked about three weeks earlier when armed men targeted a local school. On that occasion, the community vigilante group reportedly repelled the attackers, preventing casualties and abductions.
Security authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the latest church attack as of the time of filing this report.
