37 worshippers, including children, abducted in Kogi church attacks as bandits demand N600m ransom

Bandits who attacked two churches in Aiyetoro Kiri community, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, have abducted no fewer than 37 worshippers, including children and elderly persons, and are demanding a ransom of N600 million for their release.

The coordinated attacks occurred on Sunday, December 14, 2025, when gunmen stormed the First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church during worship services, taking advantage of the peaceful gatherings.

Community sources said the assailants contacted residents a day after the attack, on December 15, indicating their intention to negotiate directly with the government. By December 16, they issued a formal ransom demand of N600 million, accompanied by threats of dire consequences if the money was not paid.

Business Hallmark gathered that the attack claimed the life of a seminary graduate, Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, popularly known as JJ, while two other worshippers sustained gunshot injuries.

Among those abducted were over 12 children aged between three and eight years, as well as more than 10 elderly worshippers said to be above 70 years old.

“The attackers surrounded the community and targeted worshippers inside the churches,” a community source said. “Some people managed to hide inside the Apostolic Church, but many children who couldn’t escape were taken. More than 10 elderly people and over 12 children were abducted.”

The source added that the bandits operated unchallenged for several hours, forcing some captives to return to their homes to collect money before being led away.

“They were bold and ruthless. Some people were taken back to their houses to bring money before being abducted. It shows how freely they operated,” the source said.

The incident has sparked outrage and fear among the Bunu people, who say the scale of the attack has been largely underreported and downplayed despite its severity.

This is the third major attack on Aiyetoro Kiri in 2025 alone. On March 27, five residents were kidnapped and later released in July after ransom payments were made. Another raid on November 26 resulted in the killing of one person and the seizure of petroleum products.

Community leaders say the town has become a vulnerable corridor for bandits moving to and from their hideouts, with little or no sustained security presence.

Residents have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as government neglect, calling for urgent deployment of security forces to protect lives and property and prevent further attacks.

Four days after the incident, there has been no significant response from local, state or federal authorities, leaving families of the abducted in anguish and the community gripped by fear.

The attacks underscore the worsening insecurity in the Bunu District and highlight the urgent need for decisive government action to secure communities along known bandit routes.

Residents flee community

Meanwhile, Aiyetoro Kiri has been largely deserted, as residents flee the community amid growing security fears.

As of Thursday morning, December 18, 2025, the town’s streets were largely empty, with homes abandoned and families relocating to nearby towns and villages in search of safety.

Community sources said the mass exodus followed Sunday’s church attacks and the abduction of worshippers.

“This town is empty now. People are not waiting to be next,” a resident told SaharaReporters. “When a church is attacked and people are taken just like that, you start packing your life into bags.”

The situation has left the once-thriving agrarian community virtually paralysed, with residents calling for immediate government intervention to restore security and confidence.