Several Worshippers Kidnapped In Nigeria Church Attack As Concerns Persist

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

ABUJA (Worthy News) – Concerns remained Tuesday about the whereabouts of several worshippers who were abducted Sunday when gunmen attacked the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Nigeria’s north-central Kwara State, police said.

In published remarks, Bolanle Olukoju, commissioner for communications in Kwara, said “suspected bandits”—a term often used for heavily armed criminal gangs, some with Islamist links—“invaded the church premises” in the rural village of Omugo, in Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Olukoju said the attackers fired sporadically during the service to scare the congregation before abducting eight worshippers.

Three of the abducted victims later escaped from their captors, while five others remain in captivity, according to sources familiar with the case.

RESCUE EFFORTS UNDERWAY

Footage seen by Worthy News showed overturned chairs, with musical instruments and equipment damaged inside the church building.

Olukoju appealed to security agencies and local vigilantes to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended.

“The government commends the security agencies, forest guards, and local vigilantes for their proactive response to the incident and the rescue of three of the eight victims,” the commissioner stressed.

“The government condemns the cowardly targeting of religious centres under any guise,” he added.

POLICE AND MILITARY SEARCH

Kwara Police Commissioner Adekimi Ojo confirmed the incident, saying a rescue operation was ongoing as joint police and military patrols pursued the attackers.

He added that only two of the remaining abducted victims were below 70 years of age, with the others described as elderly.

It was not immediately clear whether the kidnappers had contacted the church to demand a ransom.

The attack underscores ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target rural communities, schools, and religious gatherings.

NIGERIA DANGEROUS NATION

Nigeria ranks among the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, placing near the top of the annual World Watch List compiled by advocacy group Open Doors, which tracks persecution globally. Open doors said Nigeria accounted for more than 4,000 Christian deaths in the latest reporting period—by far the highest number of any country.

The country’s high ranking is driven by persistent violence from Islamist extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as armed bandits involved in kidnappings and attacks, according to analysts and advocacy groups.

While much of Nigeria’s insurgency has traditionally been concentrated in the northeast, violence has increasingly spread into central regions, including Kwara State.

Churches have frequently been targeted, with attackers seeking to intimidate communities, disrupt worship, and abduct victims for ransom.

Sunday’s attack adds to a growing list of incidents that have raised concerns among Christians and security analysts about the government’s ability to protect vulnerable populations.

Latest Worthy News