At least 20 people were abducted by gunmen in Nigeria in two separate attacks recently. Among those kidnapped were a church pastor and a woman preparing for her wedding.
The widespread spate of abductions has heightened concerns regarding the security of isolated communities.
Attacks on Places of Worship and Ceremony
The first attack took place in the central Kogi state on Sunday. Attackers stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba. They fired shots, causing worshippers to scatter in panic.
The gunmen seized the pastor, his wife, and several congregants. Sources suggest the total missing from the church raid is 12 people, including the clergyman and eleven worshippers.
According to the BBC, the Kogi state government spokesman, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed the attack. He urged isolated places of worship to rethink holding services in high-risk areas until the situation improves.
"The police helicopter has arrived for a land and air battle to free the abducted worshippers," Fanwo told AFP.
Bride Kidnapped Before Her Wedding
In a separate raid the night before, a bride and her companions were abducted in the northern Sokoto state. The bride had been preparing for her wedding ceremony, which was due to take place the following morning.
She was seized alongside her friends and other guests who had come to support her. A baby, the baby’s mother, and another woman were also taken during the incident.
One account reported that 10 bridesmaids were among the 14 people taken from the village of Chacho.
READ MORE: 38 Days Over: Abducted Kenyan Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo Freed by Uganda
The village of Chacho had already been attacked by bandits in October. Local resident Aliyu Abdullahi said that 13 people were kidnapped in the earlier raid.
"We had to pay a ransom to secure the freedom. Now, we are faced with the same situation," said Aliyu Abdullahi, a resident.
The Scale of Abductions
Nigeria, a religiously diverse country of 230 million people, is struggling with long-brewing conflicts. Schools and places of worship are increasingly being targeted in this wave of attacks across north and central Nigeria.
The current insecurity adds significant pressure on Nigerian authorities to provide better protection for vulnerable communities.
In recent weeks, gangs have kidnapped hundreds of people for ransom. Over the past two weeks, more than 400 people have been taken, including many children and teenagers.
In one of the worst recent incidents, 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still missing following a raid on a Catholic school in Niger state.
Who is Responsible?
The identities of the gunmen are often unclear. While a presidential spokesman told the BBC that jihadist groups are thought to be responsible, most analysts believe the kidnappings are carried out by criminal gangs seeking large ransom payments. These criminal groups are known locally as "bandits".
The abduction of clergy members is thought to be tied to the assumption that churches might be more willing or able to pay ransoms. The pattern of attacks highlights a growing criminal economy centred on abduction-for-profit schemes.
In an attempt to stop this lucrative industry, paying ransoms has been outlawed. However, it is widely believed that these payments are still being made. Following the crisis, President Bola Tinubu declared a national security emergency and ordered the recruitment of thousands of extra police.
The situation also drew international attention when US President Donald Trump threatened military intervention over what he claimed was the killing of Christians.
Nigerian officials and analysts reject this claim, insisting that members of all faiths are victims of the violence.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!