Kogi warns churches in ‘crime-prone areas’ to suspend services after fresh abductions

The Kogi state government has advised worship centres located in “crime-prone areas” to reconsider holding services until security improves, following the abduction of several congregants during a church attack on Sunday.

Gunmen stormed a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, during early morning worship, kidnapping the pastor, his wife and multiple members of the congregation.

Reacting to the incident, Kingsley Fanwo, commissioner for information, urged residents to heighten vigilance and promptly report suspicious activity.

“We urge the citizens to be security-conscious and report suspicious movements and faces to security agencies. When you see something, say something,” Fanwo said.

He said a combined team of conventional security agencies and local vigilante networks had begun operations to secure the victims’ release but noted that the government was still awaiting official figures from the investigation.

Fanwo added that worship centres outside town centres or located in isolated communities should “reconsider worshipping in crime-prone areas for now until the situation gets better.”

The Ejiba attack comes less than two weeks after bandits abducted several worshippers from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) assembly in Eruku, a border community between Kogi and Kwara states. President Bola Tinubu announced last Sunday that the abducted CAC members had been rescued.