A pastor of the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, has been abducted by suspected bandits while travelling to his farm in Okoro Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the cleric was kidnapped on Saturday along the Okeoffin–Okoro Gbedde axis while riding on a commercial motorcycle to his farmland.
Eyewitnesses said the pastor and the commercial rider were suddenly intercepted by armed men suspected to be bandits during the journey.
A source familiar with the incident disclosed that on sighting the assailants, the pastor reportedly jumped off the motorcycle in an attempt to escape.
“The commercial rider managed to flee and escaped unhurt, but the pastor was seized by the gunmen and taken away to an unknown destination,” the source said.
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As of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the pastor’s family or the Living Faith Church, and no ransom demand had been made.
The abduction has thrown Okoro Gbedde and neighbouring communities into panic, further heightening concerns over worsening insecurity in the area.
Residents told PLATFORM TIMES that fear has spread across the community, with many restricting movement, especially to farms and remote areas.
The latest incident comes barely weeks after gunmen attacked two churches — First ECWA Church and the Apostolic Church — in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, where dozens of worshippers were kidnapped during Sunday services.
In that attack, at least 37 worshippers, including children and elderly persons, were reportedly abducted, while the assailants later demanded a ransom of N600 million.
Community sources also confirmed that the church attack claimed the life of a seminary graduate, Pastor Jimoh Adeyemi, popularly known as JJ, while two others sustained injuries.
The recurring attacks on churches and clergy have renewed calls by residents and religious leaders for urgent and decisive action by security agencies to curb banditry and protect lives and property in Kogi State.
Efforts to get an official response from the Kogi State Police Command as of press time were unsuccessful.
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