Avideo has surfaced showing members of the First ECWA Church who were abducted by suspected bandits during an attack on Ayetoro Kiri community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The 38-second video, shared by a platform, Egbe Mekun Parrot and seen by SaharaReporters, showed frail looking elderly persons and children standing in what looked like a forest.
Earlier, SaharaReporters obtained the names of some of the worshippers kidnapped during the bandit attack on the First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
Sources told SaharaReporters that a seminary graduate was killed while at least 37 worshippers, including children and elderly residents, were kidnapped.
According to sources, the attackers surrounded the community and targeted worshippers during the peaceful Sunday service.
While some churchgoers managed to hide inside the Apostolic Church, children who could not escape were abducted. More than 10 elderly individuals, all over 70 years old, and over 12 children aged between three and eight were among those kidnapped.
Killed in the attack was Student Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, also known as J.J., a seminary graduate recently returned to serve in his community.
Two others reportedly sustained injuries during the raid.
“The attackers, who surrounded the community, targeted worshippers at the churches, taking advantage of the peaceful gathering,” one of the sources who spoke to SaharaReporters said.
“While some churchgoers managed to hide inside the Apostolic Church, 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 3-8 years old.”
Eyewitnesses had said the bandits operated freely for hours, even forcing some captives to return home to collect ransom money before taking them away. Community members described the attack as brazen and unprecedented in its scale.
This is the third major attack on Aiyetoro Kiri in 2025. On March 27, five individuals were kidnapped and held for over four months before being released after a ransom payment on July 12.
The second incident occurred on November 26, when a person was killed and petroleum products seized as bandits passed through the community. Residents say the village appears to be a strategic route to and from the bandits’ hideouts.
The names of some of those kidnapped by the bandits are as follows: 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 are Mrs. Funmilayo Peter, Mrs. Rachael Oshe, Mrs. Abigail Oshe, Tobi Owonibi, James Bello Adebayo, Bosede Samuel, Mrs. Elesho, Pamilerin Atteh, Daniel Atteh, Ojo Oloruntoba’s child no.1, Ojo Oloruntoba’s child no.2, Mrs. Funmi’s child no.1, Mrs. Funmi’s child no.2, Mrs. Funmi’s child no.3, Mrs. Tobi’s child no.1, Mrs. Tobi’s child no.2, Mr. Tuesday Adebayo’s child no.1 and Mr. Tuesday Adebayo’s child no.2.
On December 15, the bandits reportedly contacted the community, seeking government attention and seeking direct negotiation with the government and not the victims’ families.
