Worshippers scampered for safety on Monday night when suspected herdsmen reportedly disrupted an outdoor church crusade in Agboda community, Nasarawa State.
A viral video circulating online seen by Arise News on Tuesday showed congregants fleeing in different directions as chaos broke out at the crusade ground.
The incident occurred during a Christian crusade attended by residents and youths of Agboda Village. Eyewitnesses said a group of suspected herdsmen approached the venue, causing immediate panic among worshippers.
In the video, a man narrating the situation said: “We came in for crusade in this community today, look at what the herdsmen did. As you can see, people are running… everybody is in unrest for the sake of herdsmen here in Nasarawa State.”
Though the footage captured frantic movements and confusion, no weapons or direct acts of violence were visible.
Speaking by phone to Vanguard, the organiser of the crusade, Dr. Daniel Ukpo, said the incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. when participants gathered for the programme.
According to him, people began running for safety after receiving reports of an attack in a nearby community.
He said: “One of the youths in the community was attacked while riding his motorcycle and suffered a machete cut. His motorcycle was also taken. When news of the attack reached us, confusion broke out and people began to flee.”
He explained that the crusade had to be halted abruptly due to the tension that followed.
Ukpo expressed concern over what he described as recurring security incidents in the Mararaba Udege axis. He recounted that during a recent visit to Ochimi community, residents expressed fears over their safety and the destruction of crops.
He also noted that security presence in the area was inadequate. “People are being attacked on the roads and on their farms, and many cases are not reported,” he added.
Ukpo further claimed that in previous instances, religious gatherings in the area had been disrupted by individuals he described as armed herders.
“The worrying part is that residents here feel defenceless. Many have nowhere else to relocate and are living in fear,” he said.
As of press time, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities. Authorities in Nasarawa State have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The latest scare adds to rising concerns over security in North-Central communities, where several attacks and abductions have been recorded in recent weeks.
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