A pastor of the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, was reportedly kidnapped by armed bandits on Saturday while going to his farm in Okoro Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to eyewitness accounts, the pastor was traveling on a motorcycle to his farm along the Okeoffin–Okoro Gbedde axis, accompanied by a commercial rider, when they were confronted by the assailants.
Sources revealed that upon seeing the kidnappers, the pastor “jumped off the motorcycle”.
“The commercial rider managed to escape unharmed, while the pastor was abducted and taken to an unknown location,” a source said.
As of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had not contacted the pastor’s family or the church, and no ransom demand had been made.
The incident has sparked fear and anxiety among residents of Okoro Gbedde and neighboring communities, adding to growing concerns over security in the area.
In a similar incident, gunmen attacked First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu, Kogi State, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, kidnapping worshippers.
The gunmen who attacked the churches later contacted the community, demanding a ransom of N600 million.
At least, 37 worshippers, including children and elderly individuals, were reportedly abducted.
According to community sources, the attackers made contact with residents on December 15, stating that they wanted to negotiate directly with the government.
On December 16, they demanded a ransom of N600 million, issuing an ultimatum to the victims’ families and warning of severe consequences if the demand was not met.
Sources later told SaharaReporters that the attack had claimed the life of a seminary graduate, Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, also known as JJ, while two others sustained injuries.
Over 12 children aged between three and eight years and more than 10 elderly worshippers over 70 years were reportedly among those abducted.
“The attackers, who surrounded the community, targeted worshippers at the churches, taking advantage of the peaceful gathering,” a community source 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.”
“The bandits operated freely for hours, even forcing some captives to return home to collect ransom money before taking them away,” the source added.
