Nigeria has recorded another disturbing wave of kidnappings after gunmen carried out two separate raids in Kogi and Sokoto states, seizing more than 20 people — including a pastor, his wife, and a bride preparing for her wedding.
The first attack happened on Sunday at a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Kogi State. Worship was underway when armed men burst into the building, firing several shots and sending congregants scrambling for safety. The pastor, his wife, and several members of the church were taken away by the attackers.
Kogi State spokesperson Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the incident but said officials were still verifying the number of victims. He added that security agencies and local vigilante units had begun tracking the kidnappers.
Just a night earlier in Sokoto State, another armed group stormed a residence where final wedding preparations were taking place. The bride, her bridesmaids, and several other women — including a mother and her baby — were abducted, according to local reports.
The twin attacks highlight a growing trend: schools, churches and other vulnerable institutions across northern and central Nigeria are being increasingly targeted. While analysts often attribute the abductions to criminal gangs seeking ransom, a presidential spokesperson recently suggested that jihadist groups may also be involved.
Nigeria is still grappling with the aftermath of a recent mass kidnapping in which about 250 schoolchildren and a dozen teachers remain unaccounted for. Although victims from some earlier attacks have been freed, many families continue to wait for word on missing loved ones.
The widespread abductions have intensified pressure on authorities to protect rural communities, schools, and religious centres. Although ransom payments are officially banned, many Nigerians believe families still resort to them as a last resort to secure freedom for abducted relatives.
International attention on Nigeria’s security situation surged last month after US President Donald Trump warned he could deploy American troops if the government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
However, Nigerian officials and security analysts argue that the violence affects people of all faiths and insist that no specific religious group is being singled out.