by Abu Ismail
After weeks of anguish, negotiations and ransom payments have led to the release of 24 parishioners abducted from a branch of the (ECWA) in , .
The worshippers were kidnapped in mid-December 2025 when armed men stormed the church during a Sunday service in , firing shots and forcing dozens of congregants into the surrounding forest. The attack sent shockwaves through communities in Kogi West, already grappling with rising cases of abductions and violent crimes.
According to community sources, the victims regained freedom in phases following prolonged negotiations between local leaders and the kidnappers, with families and residents reportedly contributing funds to meet ransom demands. While exact figures were not officially disclosed, multiple accounts confirmed that millions of naira were raised by the community to secure the release of the captives, underscoring the heavy financial and emotional toll placed on rural populations amid Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
The released parishioners, comprising men, women and elderly members of the church, were said to be physically exhausted and traumatised after weeks in captivity. Some required immediate medical attention upon return, while community members lamented reports that not all abducted victims survived the ordeal, highlighting the harsh conditions under which they were held.
Residents of Ayetoro-Kiri described the abduction as one of the most terrifying incidents in the area’s history, noting that the attackers operated for hours without resistance. They expressed frustration over what they described as slow or ineffective security response, which forced the community to rely largely on self-help, negotiations and ransom payments rather than a coordinated rescue operation.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger security presence in Kogi West, particularly in remote communities where churches, farms and highways have increasingly become targets for kidnappers. Religious leaders and civil society groups warned that the continued reliance on ransom negotiations not only impoverishes communities but also emboldens criminal networks.
As the freed worshippers reunite with their families, the Ayetoro-Kiri community says relief is mixed with fear, insisting that lasting peace will only come with decisive action by security agencies to dismantle kidnapping gangs operating across the region and to prevent churches from becoming soft targets for violent attacks.