Fear and panic gripped Ayetoro Kiri in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Sunday, December 14, 2025, as armed gunmen launched a brazen attack on the First ECWA Church, abducting no fewer than 20 worshippers. One person, identified only as JayJay, was shot dead in the assault.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the attackers opened fire during the service, sending congregants fleeing in every direction. Survivors said the gunmen moved with terrifying precision, seizing victims before disappearing into nearby bush paths, leaving a traumatized community behind.
This shocking attack comes amid a growing wave of violence in Kogi State, where rural communities and even places of worship are increasingly unsafe. Only weeks ago, the Ayetoro Kiri area faced a similar threat when armed assailants attempted to target a local school but were reportedly repelled by vigilant community members.
Residents are alarmed that this is not an isolated incident. On November 30, 2025, gunmen stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, abducting the cleric, Orlando, and 13 worshippers. The kidnappers demanded ₦500 million in ransom, later slashing it to ₦200 million, and gave families a two-day ultimatum with threats of dire consequences.
The repeated attacks on churches in Okun land have left communities living in fear, with worshippers now questioning whether any sanctuary is safe. Calls for urgent and stronger security measures are growing louder as residents grapple with the terrifying reality that nowhere, not even a house of God, is immune from violence.
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