Reported by: L. Imafidon | Edited by: Jevaun Rhashan
Gunmen have abducted the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Evangelical Church Winning All, Reverend Sunday Agang, in a fresh incident that underscores the worsening security situation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
The abduction occurred in the early hours of March 24, 2026, at the cleric’s residence in Farin Gida, Jos, the capital of Plateau State. According to initial reports from sources within the church and local community, the attackers, described as unidentified armed men, stormed the residence and forcibly took the senior church leader to an undisclosed location.
Details surrounding the attack remain limited, but the incident has already sparked concern among religious communities, civil society groups, and security observers, particularly given Agang’s prominence within ECWA, one of Nigeria’s largest Protestant denominations with millions of adherents nationwide.
The Evangelical Church Winning All, headquartered in Jos, has a significant presence across northern and central Nigeria, regions that have in recent years experienced persistent waves of violence, including kidnappings, banditry, and targeted attacks on communities and places of worship. The abduction of such a high-profile religious leader is likely to intensify fears among congregants and raise fresh questions about the safety of clerics and faith-based institutions.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, the modus operandi described in the attack aligns with patterns commonly associated with criminal gangs and armed groups operating across the region. These groups frequently target individuals perceived as influential or financially capable of paying ransom, including community leaders, clergy, and professionals.
Stone Reporters note that the Middle Belt, including Plateau State, has increasingly become a focal point of overlapping security threats involving bandits, militia groups, and opportunistic criminal networks. These actors exploit porous rural terrain, weak law enforcement coverage, and longstanding communal tensions to carry out attacks with relative impunity.
Security agencies have yet to release an official statement detailing the circumstances of the abduction or outlining ongoing rescue efforts. However, sources indicate that local security operatives have commenced preliminary investigations and are likely to deploy search-and-rescue operations aimed at locating the abducted cleric.
The incident adds to a broader pattern of kidnappings affecting members of ECWA and other Christian communities in Nigeria. Church officials have previously disclosed that hundreds of their members have been abducted in recent years, highlighting a sustained vulnerability among worshippers and clergy in several states.
In December 2025, for example, gunmen abducted multiple worshippers during a church service in central Nigeria, an incident that drew national attention and reinforced concerns about the targeting of religious gatherings. Similar attacks have been reported across Kaduna, Kogi, and parts of Plateau, often involving coordinated assaults on communities and highways.
Analysts argue that the abduction of a figure of Agang’s stature may signal an escalation in the targeting strategy of armed groups, potentially aimed at increasing leverage for ransom negotiations or attracting wider attention. High-profile kidnappings often place additional pressure on authorities, particularly when victims are widely respected within influential institutions.
Community members in Jos and surrounding areas are said to be on edge following the incident, with heightened anxiety over potential further attacks. Religious leaders across denominations have repeatedly called for improved security measures, including increased patrols, intelligence gathering, and stronger coordination between federal and state security agencies.
The Nigerian government has in recent years intensified military and police operations in several hotspots across the country. Despite these efforts, kidnapping for ransom continues to pose a major challenge, with incidents reported frequently along highways, in rural communities, and increasingly within urban peripheries.
Stone Reporters note that the persistence of such attacks reflects deeper structural issues, including economic hardship, unemployment, and the proliferation of small arms, which collectively contribute to the growth of organised criminal activity. In addition, gaps in intelligence and response capabilities have allowed many perpetrators to evade capture.
For the ECWA community, the abduction of Reverend Agang represents both a personal and institutional crisis. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he plays a key leadership role within the church’s governance structure, and his absence is likely to have both spiritual and administrative implications.
Church members and leaders are expected to intensify prayers and appeals for his safe return, while also urging authorities to act swiftly. In similar cases, negotiations involving ransom payments have often played a role in securing the release of abducted individuals, although such processes remain complex and controversial.
The incident is also likely to draw renewed international attention to Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly in regions where religious and communal identities intersect with broader patterns of violence. Human rights organisations have repeatedly called for stronger protection of civilians and more accountability in addressing attacks on vulnerable populations.
As investigations continue, many questions remain unanswered, including the identity of the perpetrators, their motives, and the prospects for a safe rescue. What is clear, however, is that the abduction of Reverend Sunday Agang has once again highlighted the fragile security landscape in parts of Nigeria and the urgent need for sustained and effective interventions.
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