Residents of Okoro Gbedde in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State are currently living in fear following the abduction of a pastor and several worshippers by suspected armed bandits.
The pastor, said to be serving with Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), was reportedly kidnapped on Saturday while heading to his farm along the Okeoffin–Okoro Gbedde route. According to eyewitnesses, he was travelling on a motorcycle when he and the rider ran into armed gunmen. The pastor allegedly jumped off the bike while the commercial rider escaped, but the attackers seized the cleric and whisked him away to an unknown location.
As at the time of this report, the kidnappers have made no contact with the pastor’s family or the church, and no ransom has been demanded.
Residents of Okoro Gbedde and neighbouring communities say fear is mounting as insecurity continues to worsen across rural areas in the state. Many lament that farming and everyday movement have become increasingly risky due to frequent attacks.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of violent crimes recently recorded in Kogi. Just days earlier, gunmen struck along the Ogbe–Egbe axis, leaving one person injured and five others abducted. The victims were reportedly on their way to a wedding ceremony when armed attackers ambushed them, shooting one person before taking five others into the bush.
Locals are now calling on security agencies and the Kogi State Government to intensify patrols and restore safety, especially along rural roads commonly used by farmers, travellers, and residents attending social events.