Bandits Release Video Of Kidnapped Church Members In Kogi [See Visual]

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

The 38-second footage, shared by an online platform, Egbe Mekun Parrot, showed several frail-looking elderly persons and young children standing in what appeared to be a forest, believed to be a bandits’ hideout.

Naija News recalls that the victims were abducted during a deadly attack on the Aiyetoro Kiri community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

The assailants 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, identified as Student Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, popularly known as J.J., 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,” one of the sources who spoke with SaharaReporters disclosed.

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 who were 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.

Eyewitnesses said some of the captives were even 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.

Watch the video below.

Naija News reports that the latest incident is the third major bandit attack on Aiyetoro Kiri in 2025, residents said.

On March 27, five persons were abducted and held captive for over four months before regaining their freedom on July 12 after ransom was paid.

Another attack occurred on November 26, when one person was killed and petroleum products were seized as bandits passed through the village.

Residents believe the community has become vulnerable because it lies along what they described as a strategic route linking bandits’ hideouts.

List of Kidnapped Worshippers

Some of the abducted victims were identified as Elder Abraham Obagbemi, Elder Thomas Tolufashe, Elder David Omonaiye, Mr David Solomon, Mr Joseph Jeremiah, Mrs Alice Atteh, Mrs Esther Atteh, Mrs Mary Adebayo, Mrs Esther Braimoh and Rebecca Daniel.

Others include Mrs Funmilayo Peter, Mrs Rachael Oshe, Mrs Abigail Oshe, Tobi Owonibi, James Bello Adebayo, Bosede Samuel, Mrs Elesho, Pamilerin Atteh, Daniel Atteh, and several unnamed children belonging to Ojo Oloruntoba, Mrs Funmi, Mrs Tobi and Mr Tuesday Adebayo.

On December 15, sources said the bandits contacted the community, demanding government attention and insisting on negotiating directly with authorities rather than the victims’ families.