Secure release of abducted worshippers, C&S leader begs Kogi gov

The Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Emmanuel Alogbo, has condemned the abduction of members of the church during a service in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The cleric also called on the state governor, Usman Ododo, to intensify rescue operations and ensure their safe return.

PUNCH Online reported that gunmen stormed the church mid-service on 30 November 2025, whisking away several worshippers.

The victims have remained in captivity since the attack.

In a statement sent to PUNCH Online on Saturday and signed by the church’s spokesperson, Omololu Olubode, Alogbo described the incident as troubling and a dangerous sign for freedom of worship in the country.

“The unfortunate incident of November 30, 2025, where innocent members of Cherubim & Seraphim Church were attacked and abducted mid-way into their worship, is not only troubling, but portends negativity for free worship of Nigerians as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

“The gun-wielding, daredevil terrorists, who attacked and abducted unarmed members of the Cherubim & Seraphim Church, at Ejiba, in Kogi State, are further proof that there are plans to silence true worship in the country. The thought of our places of worship being turned into hunting grounds by terrorists is a negative reflection of the security situation in Kogi State and its environs,” the statement read.

The cleric, however, acknowledged recent efforts by the Federal Government and security agencies to curb banditry and kidnapping.

While charging the governor on the development, he said, “We call on Governor Usman Ododo to act decisively. The lives of the worshippers depend on the speed and seriousness with which his administration responds.”

Alogbo also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to support ongoing efforts to end attacks on worship centres.

The incident adds to recent pockets of kidnappings and security breaches recorded across parts of Kogi State and other parts of the country.