Chaos struck a rural community in central Nigeria on Sunday morning. Armed men stormed a church service in Kogi state, abducting at least 13 congregants.
The attack targeted the Evangelical Church Winning All in the community of Aaaaz-Kiri.
According to eyewitnesses, the scene turned violent quickly. The gunmen opened fire indiscriminately before seizing the worshippers.
Clash with Security Forces
State officials moved quickly to address the situation. They confirmed that security forces engaged the assailants in a shootout.
Kingsley Fanwo, the Information Commissioner for Kogi, reported a significant blow to the criminal gang. He stated that five of the attackers were killed during the confrontation. Several others reportedly escaped, though they fled with injuries.
Authorities have identified the perpetrators as “bandits.” These criminal gangs are notorious in the region for carrying out kidnappings for ransom.
A Pattern of Targeting Churches
This incident is part of a worrying trend. It marks the second time in just two weeks that a church in Kogi has been targeted.
Recently, gunmen raided another congregation in the town of Ejiba. During that attack, they kidnapped a pastor, his wife, and several other members. Those victims remain in captivity.
Displacement of Violence
Why is this happening now? Commissioner Fanwo offered an explanation.
He attributed the spike in local violence to successful military operations in neighboring states. He suggested that as security forces tighten their grip elsewhere, criminal elements are being pushed into Kogi.
These attacks highlight a growing insecurity crisis across Nigeria’s central and north-western regions. This trend continues despite ongoing government efforts to deploy more troops and police to vulnerable high-risk areas.
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