Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a dramatic turn of events following an armed abduction in Kogi State, a pastor of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, has been reportedly rescued unharmed after being kidnapped by suspected bandits in the state’s Ijumu Local Government Area. The development brings relief to the congregation and broader community amid rising insecurity that has seen clergy and civilians increasingly targeted by armed criminal groups.
The incident began on Saturday, December 27, 2025, when the pastor was travelling along the Okeoffin–Okoro Gbedde road on his way to a farm located in Okoro Gbedde, a rural community in Kogi’s north‑central region. Eyewitnesses said he was riding on a motorcycle with a commercial rider when armed assailants emerged from nearby bush paths and blocked the route. In the ensuing moment of panic, the commercial rider managed to escape unharmed. The pastor, however, was overpowered by the kidnappers and taken to an undisclosed location. Initial reports indicated that, at the time, there had been no contact from the kidnappers to the victim’s family or church authorities, and no ransom demand had been communicated publicly.
The abduction quickly drew attention across social media and local news outlets, with residents and church members expressing deep concern for the pastor’s safety and well‑being. Community leaders and faith groups also appealed for heightened security measures, noting that rural communities along these corridors have been susceptible to criminal activity due to their remoteness and limited law enforcement presence.
In updates that began circulating shortly after the initial reports, community sources and local contacts indicated that the pastor had been located and brought to safety without injury. Though official confirmations from security agencies or church leadership were still pending at the time of reporting, these accounts suggest that the pastor’s rescue was accomplished through timely intervention—either by security operatives, local vigilante efforts, or a combination of coordinated actions by concerned residents and authorities working behind the scenes.
The rescue has been met with widespread relief among members of the Living Faith Church and residents of Kogi State, reflecting the acute sensitivity around abductions of religious leaders amid the broader context of insecurity in Nigeria. Over recent months, multiple reports of kidnappings targeting clergy, church members, congregants leaving services, and civilians travelling rural routes have underscored the pervasive threat posed by armed banditry and criminal gangs.
Security analysts say that the targeting of pastors and other religious figures signals a troubling evolution in the tactics of criminal elements, who increasingly exploit vulnerabilities along poorly surveilled rural roads and border areas. These groups are often heavily armed and mobile, taking advantage of challenging terrain and limited policing capacity to carry out ambushes, abductions, and ransom demands with impunity.
In response to the kidnapping, family members, church leaders, and members of the Living Faith community had mobilised quickly, contacting local authorities and urging intensified search and rescue efforts. Their actions reflected a broader pattern where community‑generated intelligence and pressure on security forces have, in certain cases, contributed to the safe recovery of abduction victims. Analysts note that such cooperation between residents and law enforcement is critical in environments where official resources are stretched thin.
The pastor’s reported unharmed rescue comes amid heightened calls for improved security across Kogi State, where multiple recent incidents have involved the kidnapping of civilians and attacks on communities by armed bandits. For instance, earlier this month, gunmen stormed a First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) congregation in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba‑Bunu LGA, abducting worshippers and prompting a multi‑agency manhunt.
State officials have, in turn, reiterated commitments to enhancing protection for vulnerable communities. The Kogi State Government, through its Commissioner for Information, has emphasised ongoing partnerships between local vigilante groups, state security agencies, and national forces to track down kidnappers and bring them to justice. These responses form part of broader initiatives aimed at mitigating the escalating insecurity affecting clergy, rural populations, and travellers on isolated roads.
Federal responses to the security challenges in Kogi and neighbouring states have also included directives for more robust military involvement in anti‑kidnapping operations, improved intelligence gathering, and community vigilance campaigns. These measures are designed to address not only the immediate threat posed by kidnappers but also the systemic gaps that allow these groups to operate across wide swathes of terrain with relative ease.
For the pastor and his family, the reported rescue brings a profoundly personal relief after what was undoubtedly a harrowing ordeal. Members of the Living Faith Church have expressed gratitude for his safe return, highlighting the resilience of faith and community solidarity in the face of adversity. Church congregations across the region have also called for heightened prayer and continued advocacy for peace and security, underscoring the central role faith institutions play in offering hope amid crises.
The incident has reignited conversations about the broader implications of kidnapping trends in Nigeria, particularly where clergy and religious communities are increasingly at risk. Analysts caution that while the pastor’s rescue is a positive development, sustainable improvements in local security will depend on multifaceted strategies that blend military, police, and community resources with socio‑economic investments in affected regions.
As authorities work to stabilise security in Kogi State, the broader national discourse continues to grapple with how best to protect vulnerable populations from the scourge of armed banditry. The pastor’s safe return offers a hopeful narrative in a climate of uncertainty, but it also underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms and enhanced protective measures to prevent future abductions and safeguard lives.
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