Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu, Kogi State — In a development that has brought renewed hope to a distressed community in Kogi State, the Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu Development Association, working with families of the victims, has secured the release of 17 additional worshippers who were abducted during a brutal attack on an ECWA church service in December 2025. The breakthrough follows weeks of sustained negotiations with their captors and significant community efforts to secure freedom for those taken hostage.
The abductees were among a larger group of parishioners seized on December 14, 2025, when armed bandits stormed the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the quiet community of Ayetoro Kiri, located in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The attack, which occurred during a Sunday service, sent shockwaves through the region and underscored the deepening security challenges facing rural areas in central Nigeria, where banditry and kidnappings have become tragically frequent.
Community leaders and relatives of the missing worshippers have been locked in strenuous negotiations with the kidnappers since the abduction, seeking to secure the safe return of their loved ones. The painstaking talks have involved painful sacrifices of resources by families and community members, who pooled funds and appealed for help in hopes of ending the suffering.
Earlier in January, the first group of seven abductees was released after prolonged dialogue and reportedly the payment of ransom. Of those initial seven, four were released alive, while three were confirmed dead, two before they were freed and another shortly after being taken to a hospital.
Further negotiations yielded the release of a smaller group of three victims on January 12, 2026, and the most recent release of 14 additional worshippers on January 13, 2026. With the latest 17 freed from captivity, a total of 24 worshippers have regained their freedom. However, community sources indicate that 13 others remain in the hands of their captors, with families and local leaders continuing efforts to secure their return.
The ongoing ordeal began when gunmen on motorcycles descended on the ECWA church during a worship session, firing shots and terrifying congregants. In addition to the kidnappings, several worshippers were killed in the initial assault, and others were wounded. The invasions have become part of a broader pattern of insecurity in the Okun region of Kogi State, where armed groups frequently exploit forested terrain and limited security presence to launch raids on isolated communities.
Relatives of the released victims described emotional reunions, while also expressing deep concern for those still missing. Many family members said they have endured “weeks of sleepless nights and prayers” as they awaited news of their loved ones, relying mostly on community networks and grassroots fundraising to sustain negotiation efforts. Numerous residents have appealed for urgent support — both through prayer and material means — to complete the release of all abductees.
Even as families celebrate the recent releases, there is a prevailing apprehension over the fate of those still held. Local vigilante groups and community security volunteers have been working alongside families to maintain pressure and pursue every available avenue for securing freedom for all captives. Appeals have also been made to government authorities and security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the remaining worshippers.
The abduction and subsequent crisis in Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu have drawn attention to the continuing threat of banditry and criminal violence in parts of Nigeria outside the country’s well-known northwest and northeast conflict zones. Analysts note that rural communities in central states such as Kogi often find themselves vulnerable due to sparse security coverage, limited rapid response capacity and the lucrative nature of ransom-driven abductions. This dynamic has placed disproportionate pressure on families and local associations to negotiate independently with armed groups — a strategy fraught with risk and moral dilemmas.
Security sources indicate that broader operations against bandit groups are ongoing, but the complexities of forested hideouts and mobile gang tactics continue to complicate rescue and enforcement efforts. Advocacy groups and civil society organisations have renewed calls for more robust state and federal responses to stem the tide of violent abductions and ensure that affected communities receive necessary support, including enhanced security deployment, negotiation assistance, and sustained protection measures.
For now, the release of 17 more worshippers has brought a fragile sense of relief to Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu, even as the hope for the safe return of all captives remains suspended on continued negotiations and community resilience. Families have pleaded for discretion and dignity in handling the ongoing crisis, urging that efforts to free the remaining worshippers continue unabated.
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