BREAKING: Bandits Demand N500Million Ransom For Abducted Kogi Cherubim & Seraphim Pastor, Worshippers

Armed bandits who attacked the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State on Sunday morning, November 30, 2025, have reportedly reached out to the family of the abducted pastor.

Sources close to the family said the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N500 million for the safe release of the pastor and several worshippers who were seized during the violent raid.

Authorities are yet to confirm any official negotiations, and security operatives have reportedly begun monitoring the situation.

On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that the Kogi State Government had launched an aerial and ground security operation following the attack.

Video footage posted by Egbe Emekun Parrot on Facebook and credited to Olusegun Iselaiye on Sunday shows a state-deployed helicopter and an anti-kidnapping unit combing the area in pursuit of the attackers.

During the assault, the church pastor, popularly known as Orlando, and an unconfirmed number of worshippers were reportedly abducted.

Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, condemned the assault in a statement issued from Lokoja, describing it as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”

Fanwo described the incident as sad and unfortunate, adding that efforts are underway to secure the rescue of all the victims.

“Those who struck at Ejiba must have been hiding in the community for some days or in bushes around the village,” Fanwo said.

“Some villagers would have seen them and kept quiet. If you refuse to raise alarms when you see strange faces at a time like this, who knows who will be victims of their madness?

“Worshipping in the bush without security in this era, just a few weeks after worshippers were abducted from a church in Kwara State, to me is not ideal.

“We all need to be security conscious at this time. We also need to volunteer intelligence.”

The commissioner noted that the state government and the Yagba West Local Government Area had been making concerted efforts to combat criminal activities in the area, given its status as a border LGA.