At least 37 worshippers, including children and elderly individuals, were abducted in a brazen attack on the First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu, Kogi State, on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
Sources in the agrarian community said the attackers contacted residents the following day, demanding direct negotiation with the government. On December 16, they set a ransom of N600 million, warning of severe consequences if their demand was not met.
The assault claimed the life of seminary graduate Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, also known as JJ, while two others sustained injuries. Among the abducted were more than 12 children aged three to eight and over 10 elderly worshippers above 70.
“The attackers surrounded the community and targeted worshippers at the churches, taking advantage of the peaceful gathering,” a source said. “Some churchgoers managed to hide inside the Apostolic Church, but children and elderly people who couldn’t escape were taken. In a shocking move, some captives were forced to return home to collect ransom money before being abducted.”
The incident has sparked widespread concern among residents, with reports suggesting underreporting of the attack. Community leaders said Aiyetoro Kiri is a strategic route for bandits traveling to and from their hideouts.
This is the third attack on the town in 2025. In March, five individuals were kidnapped and later released after ransom payment, while a November 26 raid led to one death and the seizure of petroleum products.
Residents have criticised the lack of government-backed security in the area, calling for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks. As of Thursday, December 18, 2025, many residents had fled their homes, leaving the town largely deserted.
“This town is empty now. People are not waiting to be next,” a resident told SaharaReporters. “When a church is attacked and people are taken just like that, you start packing your life into bags.”
The attacks underscore escalating insecurity in Bunu District and the urgent need for government action to protect citizens and restore safety along known bandit routes.
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