Gunmen have abducted 37 worshippers, including children and elderly residents, from two churches in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, demanding a ransom of ₦600 million for their release.
The coordinated assaults took place on Sunday, December 14, 2025, when armed attackers stormed the First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church during Sunday services, plunging the once-tranquil community into chaos.
Sources from the area said the gunmen first surrounded Aiyetoro Kiri before targeting worshippers gathered in the churches. While some congregants managed to hide inside the Apostolic Church, many others, including children and senior citizens, were abducted.
“Children who could not escape were taken, and among the kidnapped were over 10 elderly individuals above 70 years and more than 12 children aged three to eight,” a community insider revealed.
Residents said the attackers initially contacted the community on December 15, signaling a willingness to negotiate with government officials. However, by December 16, the gunmen escalated their demands, insisting on a ransom of ₦600 million and warning families of severe consequences if the demand was unmet.
“The bandits operated without restraint for hours. Some captives were even forced to go home to collect ransom money before being taken away,” a local resident disclosed.
Tragically, the attack claimed the life of Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, a seminary graduate affectionately known as JJ, while two other worshippers were injured. The incident has sparked widespread grief and outrage in Bunu, with residents criticizing the lack of adequate media coverage.
Sunday’s abduction marks the third major attack on Aiyetoro Kiri in 2025. Earlier incidents include a March 27 raid where five people were kidnapped and later released in July after a ransom payment, and a November 26 attack that left one person dead and saw petroleum products seized. Community leaders say the town has become a frequent target due to its strategic location along routes used by bandits.
Fear has forced many residents to flee. As of Thursday morning, December 18, Aiyetoro Kiri is largely deserted, with families relocating to neighboring villages for safety.
“This town is empty now. People are not waiting to be next,” a resident told SaharaReporters. “When churches are attacked and people are taken like this, you start packing your life into bags.”
Footage from the village shows locked houses, deserted streets, and only the sound of roosters in the background. One distressed resident, speaking in pidgin English, said, “All of us have left the village. They have taken people to the bush, close to 40 people. Please, help us. It is only fowls you can see. See how they broke all those windows.”
Residents continue to lament the absence of sustained government-backed security in the area, warning that continued neglect may worsen the crisis. With the abduction entering its fourth day, anxiety is mounting over the fate of the captives, as locals appeal for urgent intervention at local, national, and international levels.
Also Read: Bishop Kukah Visits Nnamdi Kanu at Sokoto Prison
The incident underscores the escalating insecurity in Bunu District and the urgent need for authorities to secure vulnerable communities and disrupt known bandit routes.
