Nigeria: Gunmen abduct 13 worshippers from church

At least 13 people were kidnapped by armed men during a Sunday service at Evangelical Church Winning All in Ajaaz-Kiri, a rural district in Nigeria’s central Kogi state.

The attackers stormed the church, opened fire, and abducted several congregants before fleeing the scene, according to local authorities.

Kogi State’s Information Commissioner, Kingley Fanwo, confirmed that five of the gunmen were killed during the attack, while others escaped despite sustaining injuries. Officials described the assailants as “bandits,” a term commonly used in Nigeria to refer to criminal gangs who often abduct victims for ransom.

This latest attack comes just two weeks after a similar raid in the nearby town of Ejiba, where gunmen kidnapped a pastor, his wife, and several church members. Despite ongoing efforts by security agencies, the kidnapped victims remain in captivity, according to local residents.

Fanwo noted that “the security onslaught in neighbouring Niger and Kwara states is pushing the bandits more towards Kogi state,” highlighting the increasing threat in the region. He added that rural communities remain particularly vulnerable due to limited security presence and slow response times.

The most significant recent attack involved over 250 children and 12 staff members abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, at the end of November.

While the Nigerian government has blamed jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) for many attacks, analysts argue that the majority of recent kidnappings are carried out by criminal gangs rather than terrorist organizations.

In response to the rising insecurity, President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to intensify intelligence-led operations and deployed additional troops and police to known hotspots. Authorities report that joint military and police task forces have achieved some successes in dismantling armed gangs. However, attacks continue to be carried out, particularly in remote areas where law enforcement and military presence are limited.

Residents and community leaders have called for stronger protective measures to prevent further abductions, stressing that attacks on churches and schools are creating widespread fear and disrupting daily life in rural communities.