Kogi Community On Edge After Church Attack

The Kogi State Government has confirmed that armed men attacked a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West, early on Sunday, taking the pastor known as Orlando, his wife and several worshippers.

The assault left residents frightened as videos from the scene showed the church in ruins, with shoes and Bibles scattered across the floor.

State officials said the attackers moved into the church during worship and escaped with the victims before help could arrive. The incident has renewed fears in a region that has faced repeated security troubles. Many residents described the abduction as another reminder of how exposed communities have become.

Authorities said early findings suggest the gunmen may have stayed around the area for days, unnoticed or unreported by locals. The government has begun a rescue effort while urging people to be more alert, avoid secluded worship centres and report unfamiliar faces in their communities.

The state noted that Ejiba and surrounding areas, being close to state borders, have faced several attacks in the past. Officials warned that churches hidden deep in the bush remain easy targets, especially when security measures are weak. They encouraged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and be cautious about sharing travel plans.

Footage taken after the attack showed a witness describing how the gunmen seized the pastor and others before fleeing. The video captured the fear on the ground as worshippers’ belongings lay scattered around the church hall.

The Ejiba attack follows a deadly incident in Kwara State last month, when armed men stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, killing at least five people and abducting 38 worshippers. Those victims, mostly women and children, were later freed after a joint operation involving security agencies.