The Kogi State government has ordered churches across the state to immediately halt night services, warning that credible intelligence points to a planned terrorist attack targeting worshippers.
In a statement issued, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed that security agencies intercepted conversations among suspected bandits plotting to attack a church in Ijumu Local Government Area..
According to him, the criminals specifically identified a church that allegedly continued to hold late-night services despite repeated security advisories.
Fanwo revealed that the bandits were overheard boasting that they would make “a lot of money” by kidnapping worshippers for ransom during a service.
The Commissioner said coordinated security operations had been activated to prevent the planned attack but stressed that the development underscores the urgency of strict compliance with the state’s security directives.
“We have observed with deep concern that despite clear security advisories, some churches still operate late into the night. This is unacceptable in the face of prevailing security challenges,” Fanwo said.
He reiterated that no church in the state is permitted to operate beyond 4pm, adding that churches located in isolated or bushy areas must relocate to safer environments to protect their members.
Fanwo warned that any church that flouts the directive would face sanctions, describing such actions as reckless and dangerous.
“This decision is not targeted at faith or worship. It is a safety-first approach designed to protect lives. Any church that deliberately disregards this protocol constitutes a security risk to its members,” he said.
He further directed security operatives to ensure that pastors do not conduct night services, insisting that the government would prioritise preventive action over reactive rescue missions.
“Our intention is to prevent crime, not to begin running helter-skelter to secure the release of kidnapped victims,” the Commissioner added.
The state government dismissed suggestions that the directive signals weakness, maintaining that it remains firm and aggressive in its fight against criminal elements.
In December 2025, SaharaReporters reported that no fewer than 20 worshippers were abducted on Sunday, December 14, 2025, after gunmen attacked the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Local sources said the attackers stormed the church while a worship session was ongoing, firing sporadically to create panic among congregants.
Many worshippers reportedly fled the scene, while an undisclosed number were seized by the assailants, who later escaped through nearby bush paths.
The attack threw the otherwise quiet community into chaos, with residents describing widespread fear and confusion as the incident unfolded.
The abduction has heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kogi State, where repeated attacks on rural communities and places of worship have left residents increasingly anxious and calling for stronger security measures.
SaharaReporters had also reported that one person, identified only as JayJay, was killed during the attack, while several worshippers were reportedly abducted.
This incident marked the second attack on a church in Okun land within weeks, heightening fears among residents and worshippers across the area.
A recent incident occurred on November 30, 2025, when armed men stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting the cleric identified Orlando and about 13 worshippers during a service.
The attackers initially demanded ₦500million in ransom, later reducing it to ₦200million, giving the victims’ families a two-day ultimatum and warning of unspecified “consequences” if the demand was not met.
Residents also recalled that the Ayetoro Kiri community came under attack about three weeks ago, when armed assailants targeted a local school.
