Terror in Worship: How Bandits Stormed a Kogi Church and Vanished With a Pastor, His Wife, and Others

Ejiba, a once-quiet town in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, was thrown into chaos and grief on Sunday morning when armed bandits invaded a church mid-service and abducted worshippers, including the pastor and his wife. What was meant to be a peaceful morning of prayer at the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church quickly transformed into a scene of fear, confusion, and desperation as gunmen stormed the premises without warning. For many residents, the incident has not only shattered their sense of safety but also deepened the growing anxiety over the relentless wave of insecurity sweeping across communities in the region.

According to eyewitnesses, the attack happened just as the service was gaining momentum. Congregants were singing when they suddenly heard sporadic gunshots outside the church building. At first, some thought it was a false alarm or distant sounds from hunters, but within seconds, the truth became impossible to ignore as armed men surrounded the church and ordered worshippers to lie flat or run for their lives. In the frenzy, women screamed, children cried, and men scrambled to shield their families as the attackers forced their way in.

The pastor, popularly known in the community as Orlando, was leading prayers when the gunmen descended. Witnesses said the attackers specifically seized him and his wife before rounding up several other worshippers. Those who managed to escape did so by sprinting through the back exit into nearby bushes, many leaving their belongings, Bibles, and footwear behind as they fled. The attackers reportedly fired shots into the air, terrifying anyone who attempted to intervene or resist.

Residents described the assault as well-coordinated. Some bandits blocked the main entrances to the church while others combed the surroundings, ensuring their targets were captured and their path to escape was clear. After gathering the abductees, the armed men marched them into the forest, disappearing within minutes and leaving behind a shaken church and a traumatized community.

In the hours following the attack, Ejiba descended into a state of confusion. Family members rushed to the church premises, hoping for news of loved ones. Elderly members of the Cherubim and Seraphim congregation wept openly, recalling how the church had only recently been established to bring spiritual growth and unity to the community. Instead, its first major gathering became the setting of a harrowing ordeal.

Local security outfits and vigilante groups immediately mobilized to pursue the bandits, but the dense forest terrain and lack of specialized equipment slowed down their response. Residents said the kidnappers exploited the familiar paths used by hunters and farmers, making it difficult for security operatives to track them swiftly. By afternoon, the community was still awaiting updates from the search teams, with fear and uncertainty mounting.

As news of the attack spread, calls for urgent government intervention grew louder. Community leaders condemned the incident, describing it as a direct attack on religious freedom and a painful reminder of the worsening insecurity that has plagued many parts of the country. According to a youth leader in the area, the attack on a place of worship crossed a line that many residents considered sacred, deepening their sense of vulnerability. “If bandits can storm a church on a Sunday morning and take people away like this, then nowhere is safe anymore,” he lamented.

The kidnapping of Pastor Orlando and his wife has sparked even more distress, as the couple is well-known for their role in supporting widows, vulnerable families, and young people in the area. Many community members described the pastor as a calm, humble man committed to building faith and hope among his congregation. His abduction, along with that of his wife, has left many devastated, with some saying the psychological impact of the incident may last long after the victims are rescued.

Security analysts note that attacks on religious gatherings are becoming more frequent, with bandits exploiting moments when groups assemble in large numbers and are least prepared for confrontation. The Sunday raid fits a pattern that has left residents of rural and semi-rural communities anxious about both their daily routines and their weekly worship activities. For Ejiba, a town that has long prided itself on communal harmony and quiet living, the invasion marks a dark turning point.

The Kogi State Police Command has yet to release a detailed statement, but officers deployed to the area have assured residents that efforts are underway to track down the perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted individuals. Meanwhile, volunteer vigilante teams from neighboring towns have joined the search, combing forests and local pathways in hopes of locating the kidnappers’ hideout. Despite these efforts, the atmosphere remains tense as the hours drag on without concrete news of the victims’ whereabouts.

Families of the abducted have gathered in prayer groups, with some holding vigils outside the church and along major roads. Mothers clutch photographs of their loved ones, while some fathers stand in silence, resisting the urge to break down as uncertainty weighs heavily on their spirits. The emotional toll is palpable. For every household touched by this incident, the fear of what the captives might be enduring deep in the forest lingers like a haunting shadow.

Community members say Sunday’s attack has revived urgent questions about the capacity of local security structures to protect residents. Some say they had observed increasing strange movements in the outskirts of the town in recent weeks, but lacked the means to investigate or report effectively. Others believe the attackers may have studied the church routine, striking on a day and time when people were least expecting trouble.

As Ejiba struggles to recover from the shock, one thing remains clear: the town will not forget the morning that armed men violated its peace, stormed a church, and carried away members of its spiritual family. The pews where worshippers once sat in unity now feel heavy with absence and fear. The pulpit where Pastor Orlando preached stands silent, awaiting the day he returns to lift his congregation’s spirits once more.

For now, Ejiba waits—hopeful, prayerful, and fearful. Families hold on to the belief that their loved ones will come home alive. Community leaders are pleading for intensified security operations. And worshippers across the state are reminded that even sacred spaces are not beyond the reach of the danger that has gripped so many communities.

As night falls over the town, one heartbreaking truth lingers: the attack on the Cherubim and Seraphim Church has left an open wound on Ejiba’s soul, one that may take time, healing, and justice to mend.