raided a church in the nearby town of Ejiba, kidnapping a pastor, his wife and several church members.
They are still being held, despite efforts by security agencies to secure their release, local residents say.
”The security onslaught in neighbouring Niger and Kwara states is pushing the bandits more towards Kogi state,” Fanwo told the BBC.
These latest incidents underline Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, particularly in parts of the north-western and central regions, where armed criminal gangs have carried out a wave of mass abductions, attacks on villages and assaults on places of worship in recent weeks.
The biggest of these saw more than 250 children and 12 members of staff reportedly kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School in in Papiri, Niger state, at the end of November.
The Nigerian government had claimed that jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (Iswap) were to blame in most cases, but this has been disputed by analysts who tell the BBC they were committed by criminal gangs.
In recent weeks, President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to step up intelligence-led operations to curb kidnappings, and approved the deployment of extra troops and police to known hotspots.
Authorities also say joint military and police task forces have recorded successes in dismantling some armed groups. Yet the attacks continue largely unabfarming district of Aaaaz-Kiri during Sunday morning service, opening fire then abducting some of the congregants.
Five of the gunmen were killed, according to Kogi state’s information commissioner Kingley Fanwo, but he said others managed to escape despite being wounded.
Officials describe the assailants as “bandits” – a term used locally for criminal gangs who typically kidnap people for ransom
Only two weeks ago, gunmen raided a church in the nearby town of Ejiba, kidnapping a pastor, his wife and several church members.
They are still being held, despite efforts by security agencies to secure their release, local residents say.
”The security onslaught in neighbouring Niger and Kwara states is pushing the bandits more towards Kogi state,” Fanwo told the BBC.
These latest incidents underline Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, particularly in parts of the north-western and central regions, where armed criminal gangs have carried out a wave of mass abductions, attacks on villages and assaults on places of worship in recent weeks.
The biggest of these saw more than 250 children and 12 members of staff reportedly kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School in in Papiri, Niger state, at the end of November.
The Nigerian government had claimed that jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (Iswap) were to blame in most cases, but this has been disputed by analysts who tell the BBC they were committed by criminal gangs.
In recent weeks, President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to step up intelligence-led operations to curb kidnappings, and approved the deployment of extra troops and police to known hotspots.
Authorities also say joint military and police task forces have recorded successes in dismantling some armed groups. Yet the attacks continue largely unabated, especially in rural communities where security presence is thin and response times are slowated, especially in rural communities where security presence is thin and response times are slow
Church Raid in Ejiba: Pastor and Members Kidnapped
Faisal Salisu Dambatta
Faisal Salisu Dambatta is a Nigerian journalist, editor, and digital publisher recognized for his dedication to factual reporting and public-interest storytelling. He has built a reputation...
Faisal Salisu Dambatta is a Nigerian journalist, editor, and digital publisher recognized for his dedication to factual reporting and public-interest storytelling. He has built a reputation for blending traditional journalistic integrity with modern, data-driven news analysis.
Over the years, Faisal has covered national and regional developments across politics, governance, technology, and socio-economic affairs. His writing emphasizes accuracy, accountability, and the preservation of journalistic ethics in the digital age.
He currently serves as a lead editor at Etimes247 Newspaper, where he oversees editorial direction, audience engagement, and the integration of SEO-optimized content strategies. Faisal believes in using media as a force for civic awareness and constructive public dialogue.
When he’s not editing stories, he contributes to journalism training, digital literacy advocacy, and research on the evolution of online news consumption in Africa.
Areas of Expertise: Investigative reporting | Digital publishing | Media strategy | SEO | Audience development
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