Bandits Storm Kogi Church, Abduct Worshippers

Armed bandits launched a terrifying assault on a church service in Ejiba, a community located in the Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Sunday, abducting several worshippers during the mid-morning service. The attack marks a severe escalation in the region’s security crisis.

The attack reportedly targeted a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church, according to initial reports from a local, community-based news outlet. The assault quickly turned the place of worship into a scene of chaos and fear.

As the assailants advanced on the property, church members dispersed in panic, fleeing for their lives. Despite the confusion, the church leader, popularly known by the nickname Orlando, his wife, and several other congregants were forcefully taken away during the brazen assault.

The incident has triggered widespread panic across the community, sending shockwaves through the region and adding to the rapidly growing security concerns across several parts of Kogi State.

This latest abduction follows a pattern of heightened criminal activity in the area. Only a day earlier, another group of armed men attacked the Isanlu Makutu–Idofin route in the neighboring Yagba East Local Government Area, forcing both residents and travelers to flee the highway for safety.

Authorities and community members have yet to determine the exact number of people abducted during the Sunday church service, with further details still slowly emerging from the disorganized community.

The continuous wave of attacks has severely heightened fear in neighboring communities. Many residents are choosing to remain indoors, while commuters are actively diverting their routes to avoid the troubled and increasingly dangerous highways linking the local government areas.