Residents of Ejiba in Yagba West, Kogi State, were thrown into fear on Sunday after armed bandits invaded a local church and abducted the pastor, his wife, and several worshippers in the middle of a morning service.
The attack occurred at the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church, where congregants were gathered for worship. Witnesses recounted a scene of chaos as gunmen stormed the building.
According to Adegboyega Oguns, who narrowly escaped, the service was disrupted within seconds. He explained that people ran in different directions as the attackers overwhelmed the congregation.
Moreover, the assailants reportedly marched the pastor, his spouse, and an unspecified number of church members into the nearby bushes, leaving the community in shock and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, state authorities announced an immediate security response aimed at tracking down the perpetrators.
The Kogi State Government said surveillance efforts had been heightened across Yagba West, with joint security teams deployed to search for the victims.
Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communication, confirmed the incident and assured residents that a coordinated rescue operation is underway.
He stressed that both formal and local security structures were already mobilised.
“Our operatives are fully engaged, and the rescue effort is a top priority. No criminal group should imagine that they can terrorise Kogi without consequences,” he said.
Fanwo added that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is directly overseeing the situation. He noted that local government authorities are working closely with security agencies to ensure that all abducted persons are safely reunited with their families.
“Kogi has a clear stance on kidnapping, and the government will pursue every lead until the victims return alive,” he said.
Furthermore, the government appealed to residents to stay vigilant and promptly report suspicious activity.
“Community participation is critical. When people speak up, it strengthens security operations,” Fanwo added.
He also encouraged worship centres, especially those located on the outskirts of communities, to temporarily review their security arrangements.
According to him, gatherings in isolated or high-risk areas should consider relocating until the security situation stabilises.
The Ejiba incident has once again heightened concerns about rising security threats targeting vulnerable communities in parts of Nigeria, while local authorities continue racing against time to secure the kidnapped worshippers.