Gunmen Abduct Pastor and Church Member in Kogi State
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Fear has gripped residents of Ofu Local Government Area in Kogi State after gunmen abducted the Pastor of Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN) Church, Pastor Friday Adehi, alongside a church member, Brother Gabriel Ezekiel.
Akahi News gathered that the victims were kidnapped on Sunday, 24th August 2025, shortly after church service. They were travelling on a motorcycle along the Ajegwu-Ojodu road when they ran into armed men who reportedly laid an ambush.
How the Abduction Happened
According to eyewitnesses, Pastor Adehi and Brother Ezekiel had earlier attended a naming ceremony of another church member after the Sunday service. On their return to their residence in Itobe, they were intercepted by the gunmen.
“The incident happened between 3–4 pm on Sunday. They were returning from Ojodu to Itobe on a motorcycle with another man when the kidnappers, who had been hiding in the bush, suddenly emerged. They stopped them at gunpoint and marched them into the forest,” an eyewitness told journalists.
The third person on the motorcycle was reportedly spared, while the pastor and his church member were taken into captivity.
Security Response and Community Action
Local vigilantes, working under a joint task force with the military, have since launched a manhunt for the abductors. Efforts are ongoing to track their movements and secure the release of the victims.
Meanwhile, community members have intensified security measures along the Itobe–Anyigba road, which has become notorious for ambush attacks. A bush-clearing initiative aimed at exposing potential hideouts of kidnappers is already underway, financed by contributions from concerned individuals, including philanthropist Dr. Simeon Oyigu.
Spiritual Intervention and Prayers
The abduction has also prompted a spiritual response from the Christian community. The Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN), alongside other faithful, has declared sessions of prayers and fasting, seeking God’s intervention for the safety and freedom of Pastor Adehi and Brother Ezekiel.
Rising Insecurity in Kogi State
This incident underscores the persistent insecurity in Kogi State, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities. Analysts warn that unless proactive measures are sustained, the prevalence of kidnappings along highways could continue to endanger lives and livelihoods.
Residents of Ofu LGA and surrounding areas are hopeful that with combined security operations and divine intervention, the abducted victims will be released unharmed.
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