Armed Bandits strike Kogi church during service — Pastor, Spouse, and Congregants taken hostage

Panic ensued on Sunday morning in the Ejiba community of Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, when armed bandits raided a newly opened Cherubim and Seraphim Church during a service, abducting several attendees, including the pastor and his wife.

According to witnesses who spoke to Reporters, the assault was abrupt and frightening. The assailants reportedly entered the church mid-service, firing their weapons into the air and causing congregants to flee in terror. The pastor, known as Orlando, was taken along with his wife and other church members.

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Local residents described the community as chaotic, with gunfire creating panic and families seeking shelter. “People scattered in every direction. It was confusing until the shooting began,” a local resident told Reporters.

As of the latest update, the precise number of abducted worshippers is uncertain, with various reports circulating within the community.

Authorities have not yet addressed the incident, and there has been no official statement from either the Kogi State Government or the Police Command, leaving local residents feeling anxious and unsure.

This abduction adds to the ongoing distress regarding security threats aimed at peaceful civilian spaces, such as places of worship and rural areas, raising heightened concerns about safety in Kogi and across the nation.