Bandits responsible for the abduction of worshippers from the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, have given a 48-hour deadline for the payment of a ₦200 million ransom, intensifying fear and anxiety across the community as families scramble for assistance.
The armed assailants stormed the church on November 30, 2025, during a worship session, abducting 14 individuals, including the presiding pastor, popularly known as Orlando, six children from his household, and two infants — a three-week-old baby and a four-month-old.
The kidnappers reportedly contacted the families shortly after the attack, initially demanding ₦500 million before reducing the ransom to ₦200 million. They warned that failure to meet the revised demand within two days would result in severe consequences for the captives.
A family source told SaharaReporters that the victims remain in harsh conditions, with their health deteriorating rapidly. “They have given us 48 hours. We cannot raise such an amount. We are pleading for help,” the source said.
Families Release Heartbreaking Video Appeal
A viral video circulating online shows the distressed relatives of the abducted pastor kneeling and pleading for intervention from the Kogi State Government. Among them is the pastor’s elderly wife, who broke down in tears as she begged Governor Usman Ododo to take immediate action.
“Please come to our rescue. The amount the kidnappers are demanding is beyond our means,” she said, visibly distraught. According to the narration in the video, Pastor Orlando is a farmer and cleric, while his wife is a petty trader. The kidnapped children are students whose education and safety are now gravely at risk.
Out of the 14 abductees, seven belong to the pastor’s household alone.
Government Silence Raises Concern
Despite the gravity of the attack and the presence of infants among the abductees, the Kogi State Government has not issued a formal statement or provided updates on rescue efforts more than a week after the incident. This silence has drawn widespread criticism from community stakeholders and rights advocates who argue that the state appears unresponsive to escalating insecurity in rural areas.
Residents of Ejiba and surrounding communities say fear has gripped the region as the deadline set by the kidnappers approaches. Community leaders have called on security agencies, including the police, military, and local vigilante groups, to intensify search-and-rescue operations before the deadline expires.
Community Warns of Impending Tragedy
Local sources warn that the situation is becoming increasingly desperate. With the families unable to raise the demanded amount and no visible government intervention, concerns are growing that the captors might take drastic action if the ultimatum lapses.
“This is a race against time,” a community elder said. “We cannot afford to lose any of these innocent people, especially the babies. We need urgent and coordinated action.”
The incident adds to the rising wave of kidnappings and violent crimes across Nigeria’s North-Central region, where religious gatherings, schools, and rural communities remain frequent targets for criminal gangs seeking ransom.
Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
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