Bandits Storm Ejiba Church in Kogi, Abduct Pastor, Wife and Several Worshippers

Ejiba, a community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, was thrown into panic on Sunday morning after armed bandits raided a church service and abducted multiple worshippers, including the pastor and his wife. The attack took place at a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church, where congregants had gathered for worship before gunmen descended on the building.

Witnesses who spoke to the Egbe Mekun Platform said the assailants struck without warning, sending worshippers running in all directions. Adegboyega Oguns, who was inside the church at the time, described the scene as chaotic, noting that the pastor, popularly known as Orlando, along with his wife and several others, was whisked away during the assault.

The incident has deepened concerns over rising insecurity in Kogi State. Just a day earlier, a similar attack occurred along the Isanlu Makutu–Idofin corridor in Yagba East, where armed men forced residents and travellers to flee for safety. Eyewitnesses reported that the sudden strike on Saturday afternoon caused widespread fear in the area.

Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of people kidnapped in the Ejiba attack as information remains limited. Local sources say tension has gripped surrounding communities, with many residents staying indoors while travellers reroute to avoid the troubled stretch.