Gunmen attacked a church in Kogi State, kidnapping a pastor, his wife, and several congregants during an early Sunday service.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred at the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, throwing the community into confusion as residents fled for safety.
Kogi Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described the attack as
very sad and unfortunate and assured that efforts were underway to rescue those abducted.
He suggested the attackers may have been hiding nearby for days, saying, “Those who struck at Ejiba must have been hiding in the community for some days or in bushes around the village.”
Fanwo added that some villagers might have noticed suspicious movements but failed to alert authorities.
He warned, “If you refuse to raise alarms when you see strange faces at a time like this, who knows who will be victims of their madness?”
He also criticised worshipping in unsecured locations shortly after a similar abduction in Kwara State, urging people to be security-conscious and to provide any intelligence to authorities.
Fanwo advised residents to avoid unsecured churches and mosques, refrain from unnecessary travel, and not disclose their movements in danger zones.
He said security agencies and the state government had taken drastic measures to ensure the safe return of those kidnapped.
