No fewer than 20 worshippers were abducted on Sunday when armed gunmen attacked the First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The attackers reportedly stormed the church while a worship service was in progress, firing sporadically to instil fear and force congregants to flee. In the ensuing chaos, several worshippers were seized, while others escaped.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen later fled the scene through nearby bush paths, leaving the community gripped by fear and confusion.
It was gathered that at least one person, identified only as JayJay, was killed during the attack, while the exact number of abducted worshippers remains unclear.
The incident has heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kogi State, particularly in rural communities and places of worship that have increasingly become targets of armed attacks.
Residents of Ayetoro Kiri described the assault as terrifying, noting that the once-peaceful community has come under repeated threats in recent weeks.
The abduction marks the second church attack in Okun land within a short period. On November 30, 2025, armed men invaded a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting a cleric identified as Orlando and about 13 worshippers during a service.
In that earlier incident, the kidnappers reportedly demanded an initial ransom of ₦500 million, later reducing it to ₦200 million, while issuing a two-day ultimatum and threatening unspecified consequences.
Community members also recalled that Ayetoro Kiri was attacked about three weeks ago when armed assailants targeted a local school. On that occasion, a local vigilante group successfully repelled the attackers, preventing casualties and abductions.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies regarding the latest church attack.
Leave a Reply