At least one person was killed and 13 worshippers abducted after armed men stormed a church service in Nigeria’s Kogi State on Sunday, December 14, in an attack that has deepened fears over insecurity in rural communities.
The assailants targeted Evangelical Church Winning All in Aaaaz-Kiri, a farming district in Kogi State, during Sunday morning worship.
A normal peaceful farming community was thrown into chaos by the sound of gunfire where gunmen burst into the church compound, opened fire, and seized congregants before fleeing.
According to local accounts, parishioners were gathered for Sunday service when the attackers struck.
“The attackers stormed into Evangelical Church Winning All in the mainly rural farming district of Aaaaz-Kiri during Sunday morning service, opening fire then abducting some of the congregants,” residents said.
The sudden assault caused panic as worshippers attempted to escape gunfire and confusion spread through the church grounds.
One Confirmed Dead, Many Missing
Local residents said at least one person had been confirmed dead following the raid, though the total casualty figure remained unclear as families continued searching for loved ones.
“It’s not clear how many were killed yet. The parishioners were holding Sunday service when the assailants struck. So far, one person has been confirmed dead. Many families are reporting missing relatives or close ones, as many of them were abducted by the invading gunmen,” one resident said, speaking anonymously.
However, authorities said 13 worshippers were believed to have been abducted, though officials are still working to verify the number of victims.
Five Attackers Reportedly Killed
Kogi State Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said security forces confronted the attackers after the raid.
He stated that five of the gunmen were killed, while others escaped with injuries.
Authorities described the assailants as “bandits,” a term widely used in Nigeria for heavily armed criminal gangs involved in kidnapping for ransom, village raids, cattle theft, and highway attacks.
Second Church Attack in Two Weeks
The latest assault is the second attack on a church in Kogi within two weeks, raising alarm among residents and faith communities.
Earlier, gunmen reportedly raided a church in Ejiba, kidnapping a pastor, his wife, and several members of the congregation. Those victims were said to still be in captivity.
Repeated attacks in quick succession have fueled fears that churches in isolated communities are being deliberately targeted because they are perceived as soft targets with limited security presence.
Rising Pressure From Neighboring States
Fanwo said military operations in surrounding states may be pushing armed groups toward Kogi as security pressure increases elsewhere.
That pattern has been observed in parts of Nigeria before, where crackdowns in one region can displace criminal networks into neighboring states with weaker enforcement or more difficult terrain.
Kogi sits in a strategic location connecting Nigeria’s north, central belt, and southern regions, making it an important transit corridor but also vulnerable to spillover violence.
Insecurity in Central Nigeria
The attack comes amid renewed calls for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, while many communities across Nigeria continue to face violence from armed gangs and kidnappers.
Kogi State lies in Nigeria’s central belt, a region increasingly affected by spillover insecurity from the north-west and neighboring states.
Aaaaz-Kiri is described as a quiet agricultural district where many families depend on farming, making the violence particularly traumatic for locals unaccustomed to such large-scale attacks.
Bandit groups frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, raids on villages, and attacks on travelers and places of worship.
Despite deployments of troops and police to high-risk areas, rural communities often remain vulnerable because of difficult terrain and limited security presence.
Search for Victims Continues
Security agencies were expected to continue operations aimed at rescuing the abducted worshippers and tracking those responsible.
For families in Aaaaz-Kiri, the incident has them fearful and uncertain as they await news about abducted relatives.
The church attack is the latest reminder that even places of prayer are no longer insulated from Nigeria’s wider security crisis.
