Kogi community secures release of 17 abducted worshippers

The Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu Development Association, working with affected families, has secured the release of 17 additional victims kidnapped during an attack on the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

According to the association, 14 victims were freed on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, following intense negotiations, while three others were released a day earlier on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Recalling the incident, the association said more than 30 worshippers were abducted on Sunday, December 14, 2025, when gunmen invaded the First ECWA Church during a church service. The attackers reportedly killed at least one person, a seminary graduate, and took away children, elderly worshippers and other congregants. The attack was the third major security incident in the community in 2025, further underscoring the worsening insecurity in the Bunu District.

The association noted that earlier efforts led to the release of seven victims on January 1, 2026—four alive and three dead—after prolonged negotiations and the payment of ₦15 million.

“With the latest development, a total of 24 people have so far been released,” the statement said, adding that efforts were ongoing to secure the freedom of those still in captivity. “While the association continues to strive for the release of our people, it is our prayer and hope that they will all safely return home.”

The group lamented the heavy financial burden placed on the community, noting that the releases were achieved at great cost due to limited external support. Initial ransom demands by the kidnappers were reportedly as high as ₦600 million.

The statement, signed by Aledare Jide Sunday, MASN, National Publicity Secretary of the Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu Development Association, said the latest releases have brought relief to families who have endured weeks of uncertainty and trauma.

Despite the progress, the association renewed calls for stronger security measures to prevent further attacks in rural communities across Kogi West, stressing that sustained government intervention is urgently needed to address the recurring threat of banditry.