Terror struck a place of worship in Kogi State on Sunday as armed bandits attacked the First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, killing one worshipper and abducting several others.
The assailants reportedly invaded the church in the early hours of the morning while congregants were gathered for service, firing gunshots and causing panic among worshippers. One member of the congregation, identified simply as Jayjay, was shot dead during the attack, while an undisclosed number of worshippers were forcefully taken away by the attackers into the surrounding bush.
Residents of the community described the incident as traumatic, saying the gunmen operated with ease and escaped before any security response could reach the area. The attack has further heightened fear across Okunland, the western axis of Kogi State, where repeated cases of banditry and kidnapping have been recorded in recent weeks.
The incident is the second reported attack on a church in the area within a fortnight. On November 30, 2025, suspected bandits stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting the presiding pastor, popularly known as Orlando, alongside several worshippers during a service.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kogi State Police Command nor the state government has issued an official statement on the latest attack. Community members are calling for urgent deployment of security forces to the affected areas, warning that continued silence and slow response could further embolden criminal elements.
The attack adds to growing concerns over the safety of places of worship in North-Central Nigeria, where churches and mosques have increasingly become targets of armed groups. Residents insist that without decisive action, the region risks descending further into fear and lawlessness.
Investigations are expected to commence as security agencies intensify efforts to track down the attackers and rescue the abducted victims.
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