Gunmen storm Kogi community, kidnap pastor, church member

Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped the pastor of the Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN), Rev. Friday Adehi, along with a church member, Gabriel Ezekiel, in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The abduction took place on Sunday shortly after a church service. Reports indicate that the victims were traveling on a motorcycle along the Ajegwu–Ojodu Road when they ran into the armed men.

According to sources, Rev. Adehi and Mr. Ezekiel had earlier attended a naming ceremony of a fellow church member after the Sunday service in Itobe. On their way back home, they were accosted and taken away at gunpoint.

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“The incident happened between 3 and 4 p.m. on 24th August 2025 (Sunday) when both members of the church were returning from Ojodu to Itobe. The pastor was riding on his bike with another man accompanying him.

“Then the kidnappers, who were lying in ambush, suddenly burst onto the road when they sighted the motorcyclist approaching. The kidnappers stopped them at gunpoint and directed them into the bush,” an eyewitness told newsmen.

However, the CEFN Church and other Christian faithfuls have declared prayers and fasting for God’s intervention in the safety and freedom of the church members.

Also, the apex Igala socio-cultural organisations, ICDA, and Ukomu Igala have called on the Kogi State government to prioritise the deployment of drone technology to effectively track kidnappers and bandits using the forests as their hideouts to negotiate ransom.

The group had stated that the strategy will enable the joint task force to achieve results in their war against criminals in the forests.