One killed, 13 Worshippers Abducted at Evangelical Church in Nigeria’s Kogi State

It is the second attack on a place of worship in the area within two weeks. Recently, gunmen raided a church in the nearby town of Ejiba, kidnapping a pastor, his wife, and several church members.

They are still being held, despite efforts by security agencies to secure their release, local residents say.

According to Kogi state's information commissioner Kingley Fanwo, “The security onslaught in neighbouring Niger and Kwara states is pushing the bandits more towards Kogi state.”

In a statement, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, condemned the spate of attacks, calling for urgent intervention.

“The worsening security situation in the entire district calls for urgent intervention, from both federal and state governments, as well as all stakeholders, to tackle the issue head-on, and rescue the people from the bandits’ attack,” he said.

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The latest development in Africa’s most populous nation follows calls by Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria’s Abuja Catholic Archdiocese for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

In his Sunday, December 14, homily at St. Pius X Gbagalagpe Parish of his Metropolitan See, Archbishop Kaigama urged followers of different faith traditions in Nigeria to rise above divisions and live out the core values that religion seeks to promote, particularly at a time when the country continues to grapple with social and religious tensions.

Nigeria has been battling with a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs, whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and in some cases, killing.

Boko Haram insurgency has been a major challenge in the country since 2009, a group that allegedly aims to turn Africa's most populous nation into an Islamic nation.

The insecurity situation in many other parts of the country has been further complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia.

The latest incident in Kogi State follows a series of other kidnappings that have targeted members of the Clergy in Nigeria.

On November 18, Bishop Yohana Dauwa Bulus of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Kontagora raised concern about the safety of children in the West African country following the November 17 abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.

Later on November 19, one of the 25 kidnapped girls escaped and is now safe, authorities confirmed. 24 others were later released on November 26.

On November 21, armed attackers invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, abducting 303 children in the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora. 

100 of them were released on December 7.

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