A fresh wave of coordinated kidnappings has struck Nigeria, with armed assailants seizing at least 20 individuals across two separate incidents over the weekend, exacerbating the nation’s ongoing security crisis.
In the central Kogi state, attackers violently stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church during Sunday services. The assailants discharged firearms into the congregation, creating panic and chaos as worshippers scrambled for safety. The gunmen subsequently abducted the church pastor, his wife, and several other parishioners in a brazen assault on religious freedom.
Simultaneously, in the predominantly Muslim northern region of Sokoto, a pre-wedding gathering turned into a nightmare when gunmen raided a residential compound. The perpetrators kidnapped a bride-to-be along with her bridesmaids and wedding guests who had assembled for traditional pre-nuptial ceremonies. Additional victims included an infant, the child’s mother, and another woman according to confirmed reports.
These incidents represent an alarming pattern of targeted attacks on educational institutions and places of worship throughout northern and central Nigeria. While criminal gangs seeking ransom payments are widely believed responsible for most abductions, presidential spokespersons have controversially attributed the attacks to jihadist organizations, creating conflicting narratives about perpetrator motivations.
Kingsley Fanwo, official spokesperson for the Kogi state government, verified the Ejiba church attack to international media while acknowledging difficulties in confirming precise casualty figures. Fanwo stated that combined security forces comprising conventional agencies and local defense networks have initiated pursuit operations to locate the kidnappers.
This security crisis has highlighted the acute vulnerability of rural communities, with approximately 250 schoolchildren and 12 educators remaining missing following a massive abduction several weeks prior. Although some previous kidnapping victims have reportedly been released, the persistent attacks have intensified pressure on Nigerian authorities to enhance protective measures for at-risk populations.
The Nigerian government has implemented a official ban on ransom payments to disrupt the economics of kidnapping enterprises, though widespread circumvention of this prohibition is believed to continue. The situation attracted international attention recently when former US President Donald Trump threatened military intervention if Christian protections weren’t strengthened, though Nigerian officials maintain that victims represent all religious demographics equally.