Gunmen kidnap 13 churchgoers in Kogi state, five attackers killed

Armed men have abducted at least 13 people from a church in Nigeria’s central Kogi state, marking the second such attack in as many weeks.

The assailants stormed Evangelical Church Winning All in the predominantly rural Aaaaz-Kiri district during Sunday morning service, opening fire before abducting some congregants.

Kogi state’s information commissioner, Kingley Fanwo, said five of the gunmen were killed, though others escaped despite being wounded. Officials describe the attackers as “bandits,” a term used locally for criminal gangs who typically kidnap for ransom.

Just two weeks ago, gunmen raided a church in nearby Ejiba, abducting a pastor, his wife, and several church members. They remain in captivity despite efforts by security agencies to secure their release, according to local residents.

Fanwo told the BBC that heightened security operations in neighbouring Niger and Kwara states are pushing bandits further into Kogi state.

These recent attacks highlight Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity, particularly in parts of the north-west and central regions, where armed gangs have carried out mass abductions, village raids, and assaults on places of worship. In one of the largest recent incidents, more than 250 children and 12 staff were kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, at the end of November.

While the government has attributed many attacks to jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), analysts say most are committed by criminal gangs.

In response, President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to intensify intelligence-led operations, deploying extra troops and police to known hotspots. Authorities report some successes in dismantling armed groups, but attacks continue, particularly in rural areas where security presence is limited and response times are slow.