Agony, Trauma, Sympathy, Fear as Bandits Release Video of Kidnapped Church Members in Kogi

A video showing members of the First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) who were abducted by suspected bandits in Kogi State has surfaced online, intensifying fears over the fate of the victims.

The 38-second footage, shared by an online platform, Egbe Mekun Parrot, has elicited widespread sympathy as it shows several frail-looking elderly persons and young children standing in what appears to be a forest believed to be a bandits’ hideout.
It would be recalled that the victims were abducted during a deadly attack on Aiyetoro Kiri community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
The assailants reportedly stormed the community during a peaceful Sunday worship service at the First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church, killing a seminary graduate and abducting no fewer than 37 worshippers.
The deceased was identified as Student Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, popularly known as J.J., who was said to have recently returned to the community after completing his seminary training.
“The attackers surrounded the community and targeted worshippers at the churches, taking advantage of the peaceful gathering,” a source reportedly told SaharaReporters.
According to eyewitness accounts, while some worshippers managed to hide inside the Apostolic Church, many others—particularly children and elderly members—were unable to escape.
“Children who couldn’t escape were abducted. Among the kidnapped victims were more than 10 elderly people over 70 years of age and over 12 children ranging from three to eight years old,” the source added.
Two other residents were reportedly injured during the raid.
Residents described the attack as brazen, saying the bandits operated freely in the community for several hours without resistance. Witnesses also claimed that some captives were forced to return to their homes to collect ransom money before being taken away by the attackers.
Community members lamented that the scale and coordination of the attack were unprecedented in the area.