A spate of coordinated, violent attacks across Kogi State over the weekend has resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least four people and the mass abduction of over 20 worshippers and residents.
The attacks targeted communities in two separate local government areas: Kabba/Bunu and Mopamuro, signalling a significant deterioration of the security situation in the region.
The most prominent incident occurred during a Sunday service, marking the second church attack in the area in two weeks at First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Ayetoro-Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area (LGA), where one worshipper, identified only as “Jayjay,” was confirmed dead after being shot by the assailants.
Reports indicate that over 20 worshippers were kidnapped by the gunmen, who stormed the church while the service was in progress and fired sporadically to instill panic before whisking the victims away.
The Chairman of the council area, Zaccheus Dare Micheal, in reacting to the incident, ordered the closure of all markets in the area, blaming the church for holding service in a tense security environment.
The second attack, which occurred simultaneously on Sunday morning, targeted settlements in the neighboring Mopamuro LGA.
Coordinated raids hit Ilai and Oke-Agi communities, with the attacks reportedly commencing around 4:00 a.m. and lasting over an hour. At least three people were killed across the two settlements, with others sustaining injuries.
An undisclosed number of residents, beyond those taken from the church, were also abducted from the settlements in Mopamuro.
These attacks add to a worrying trend of insecurity in the western part of Kogi State, often referred to as Okun land.
This is the second major church abduction in the area in two weeks, following the attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, on November 30, where a pastor and over 13 worshippers were abducted. The attackers in that incident reportedly demanded a massive ransom.
Senator Sunday Karimi, representing the Kogi-West senatorial district, lamented the worsening security situation, calling for an urgent intervention from the federal and state governments.
Local groups and residents have expressed fear that the organized nature of the attacks, which included the alleged use of surveillance drones in a previous church raid, points to increased sophistication and potential terrorist involvement, rather than mere banditry.
Security agencies, including the Nigerian Army and Police, have reportedly launched coordinated operations to track the perpetrators and rescue the abducted victims.
