Kogi State advises Church relocation after attack and mass abduction

The Kogi State government has advised worship centres located in crime-prone areas to consider relocating after gunmen attacked a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting the pastor, his wife, and other worshipers during early morning service on Sunday.
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The attack comes just three days after Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo raised an alarm that major bandit commanders had relocated to Kogi State. The government has confirmed that a security operation is underway to rescue the victims.
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The Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, issued the advisory, linking the attack to a similar abduction at the Christ Apostolic Church, in Kwara State just weeks ago.
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‎Fanwo urged places of worship in the outskirts or those worshipping in the bush without security to reconsider holding services in such crime-prone areas until the security situation improves.
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The Commissioner confirmed that the launch of a combined security network, including conventional agencies and local security architecture, is actively engaged in the manhunt and rescue operation in order to mitigate banditry across the state. He urged citizens to be vigilant and to provide intelligence information to security operatives to help facilitate the efforts.
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Governor Ododo had already announced  that all public activities, both religious and social, must end by 4:00 p.m. daily until further notice, to deter potential attacks by the newly relocated criminal elements.
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