Living Faith Church Pastor Abducted by Bandits in Kogi State

A pastor of the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, has been abducted by suspected bandits in Okoro Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident occurred on Saturday as the pastor was on his way to his farm along the Okeoffin–Okoro Gbedde route. He was traveling on a motorcycle with a commercial rider when armed men reportedly intercepted them.
Eyewitnesses said that upon encountering the attackers, the pastor jumped off the motorcycle in an attempt to escape. The commercial rider managed to flee without injury, but the pastor was seized and taken to an unknown location.
As of the time this report was filed, neither the pastor’s family nor the church had been contacted by the kidnappers, and no ransom demand had been made.
The abduction has heightened fear among residents of Okoro Gbedde and surrounding communities, further deepening concerns over insecurity in the area.
The incident comes amid a wave of similar attacks in Kogi State. Earlier in December, gunmen stormed the First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, abducting worshippers during church services.
Reports from the community indicated that the attackers later demanded a ransom of ₦600 million. At least 37 people, including children and elderly worshippers, were said to have been taken during the attack.
Community sources disclosed that the assailants contacted residents days later, stating their intention to negotiate directly with the government. They reportedly issued an ultimatum to the victims’ families, warning of grave consequences if their demands were not met.
The church attack was also reported to have resulted in the death of a seminary graduate, Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, also known as JJ, while two other individuals sustained injuries. Among those abducted were more than a dozen children aged between three and eight years, as well as over ten elderly worshippers above the age of 70.
Residents said the attackers operated freely for several hours, surrounding the community and targeting worshippers during the services. Some victims were allegedly forced to return home under escort to collect ransom money before being taken away.
The recent abduction has renewed calls from residents for stronger security measures to curb the rising cases of kidnapping and armed attacks in the state.