…as Govt deploys helicopter, anti-kidnapping squad
Kogi State witnessed a frightening escalation of insecurity over the weekend as armed bandits launched coordinated attacks across multiple communities, abducting a pastor, his wife, several worshippers, and motorists in Yagba-East and Yagba-West local government areas.
The most distressing attack occurred early Sunday at the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba-West LGA, where gunmen stormed the worship centre mid-service. The pastor, identified as Orlando, his wife, and several congregants were taken captive, forcing worshippers and nearby residents to flee in panic.
Eyewitness Adegboyega Oguns described scenes of chaos as the attackers invaded the church. “It is serious, we all ran out of church”, he said, noting that the assailants appeared to have monitored the community before striking.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed the attack, calling it “very sad and unfortunate.” He said preliminary findings suggest the attackers had been hiding within the community or in surrounding bushes for days. He lamented that villagers may have noticed suspicious movements but failed to raise alarm.
“Some villagers would have seen them and kept quiet”, Fanwo said. “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 queried.
He also faulted religious leaders for holding services in insecure locations, especially so soon after the abduction of worshippers from a Kwara church earlier in November. Fanwo urged residents to be more vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and “stay away from unsecured churches and mosques” until security improves.
Responding to the escalating crisis, the Kogi State Government has deployed a surveillance helicopter and an anti-kidnapping squad to comb the forests and track the assailants. Security agencies, the government says, have taken “drastic measures” to rescue the abducted worshippers and motorists.
Ejiba has suffered repeated attacks in recent months despite efforts by state and local authorities to secure the border communities. Fanwo maintained that protecting residents requires joint action between citizens and security agencies. “It’s easy to blame the government, but those suffering in the hands of these incurable irredentists are our people,” he said. “When you see something, say something”.
The latest attacks come just days after President Bola Tinubu announced the successful rescue of worshippers kidnapped from a church in Eruku, Kwara State – an incident that similarly rattled communities near the Kogi border.
As rescue efforts continue, fear and uncertainty linger across Yagba East and Yagba West, where residents are desperately hoping the state’s renewed security push will halt the wave of abductions.
