Bandits yesterday attacked a church in Ejiba Community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the pastor, his wife and many worshipers.
This newspaper gathered that the incident occurred while the church service was going on.
The attack on the Cherubim and Seraphim Church came hours after the abduction of travellers along the Isanlu-Makutu-Idofin road on Saturday in Yagba East Local Government of the state. Both attacks occurred in the same axis of the state.
Locals said the armed men laid siege on the road for hours, intercepting vehicles and abducting the occupants.
“The number of victims kidnapped along the Isanlu-Makutu-Idofin road on Saturday is not known. Daily Trust gathered that about three cars ran into the ambush and that all the occupants except one person who escaped, were taken into the bush.
“But news filtered into the community today that military men and local vigilantes tracked the hoodlums and engaged them in a gunfire, leading to the rescue of some victims,” Enimola Daramola, a resident in the community said.
A report from the area on Sunday said another commercial vehicle was attacked along the Idofin Community.
“The driver of the vehicle and passengers narrowly escaped the attack. That route has become very dangerous,” said David Juwon, a resident of Isanlu Community.
The Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, CSP William Aya, confirmed the Saturday incident, saying a car was attacked while on transit in that axis.
“Three people were attacked in a car while on transit between Idofin and Isanlu; one person by name, Raji Adesukami, escaped while two others were kidnapped.
“The Commissioner of Police has deployed a tactical team, comprising the Quick Response Unit, Anti-kidnapping, and PMF, to the area to ensure victims are rescued unhurt,” he said.
A military source noted that troops of 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, rescued five abducted victims in a coordinated operation around the Isanlu–Egbe area of Yagba East Local Government Area on 29th November, 2025.
According to the source, the operation followed two separate kidnap incidents.
“Upon receiving the reports, our troops immediately mobilised to both scenes, professionally engaging the kidnappers with superior firepower. The aggressive response forced the bandits to flee, abandoning all five victims who were rescued unharmed.
“The Brigade reiterates its commitment under the leadership of Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, to ensuring the security of lives and property across Kogi State. Troops remain vigilant and will continue to dominate the area with robust patrols to deny criminal elements any freedom of action,” a source said.
The attack on the church in Ejiba, Kogi State, is coming weeks after an attack on a CAC church in Eruku area of Kwara State. Kogi shares a boundary with Kwara State.
Witnesses said the gunmen arrived at about 9:30 a.m. and opened fire, making the worshipers flee in different directions.
One Adegboyega Oguns, who was present at the church, said: “It’s a new Cherubim and Seraphim church. The pastor popularly called Baba Orlando and wife with some others have been kidnapped. It was really serious. We all ran out of the church”.
The Kogi State government on Sunday said it has intensified surveillance and patrols to get the bandits who attacked the Cherubim and Seraphim Church.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, said the government has reinstated its commitment to carry the fight to the bandits’ hideout to mitigate prevailing attacks on the people.
Fanwo said: “The security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture is currently doing what it should do.
“The authorities of Yagba West Local Government Council are working hard with the security agencies to ensure those kidnapped are rescued alive.
“The perpetrators already know that Kogi will do everything possible to secure every one of its citizens’ abducted.
“The governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, is coordinating activities and we will keep the press updated on the operations.
“We urge the citizens to be security-conscious and also report suspicious movements and faces to security agencies. When you see something, say something.
“Worship centres in the outskirts should also reconsider worshipping in crime-prone areas for now until the situation gets better,” he said.
It would be recalled that a few days ago, the Kogi State governor, Usman Ahmed Ododo, said bandit commanders had relocated to the state. The governor, who held an emergency stakeholders’ meeting with security agencies and traditional rulers at the Government House in Lokoja on Thursday, said everything possible will be done to protect people of the state.
As part of the measures, the governor ordered management of churches, mosques or event centres to streamline their activities or programmes to end by 4 p.m. daily.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, Tosin Olokun, had on 16th November imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew across the local government.
“The safety of our people remains our top priority. This curfew is a proactive step to strengthen ongoing operations and prevent criminal infiltration across our communities,” he said.
Ten days after, precisely on 26th November, bandits attacked Aiyetoro Kiri settlement in the local government, killing two residents.