Three of the seven worshippers recently released after being abducted from the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Ayetoro-Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, have died.
The victims were part of a group of over 38 people, including women, children, and the elderly, kidnapped on December 14, 2025, when bandits attacked the church during a service and demanded millions of naira as ransom.
According to the community spokesperson, David Ampitan, seven abductees were freed over the weekend after “painful ransom payments,” but three died shortly after release, including an elderly woman whose body has not yet been recovered, while the remaining four are receiving medical treatment.
Ampitan criticized the authorities for negligence and called for urgent action to secure the release of the remaining 31 captives. The Kogi State Government, through Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo, said security agencies are actively tracking the criminals and conducting rescue operations. Meanwhile, youths in Kabba staged a protest on January 2, 2026, over rising insecurity, blocking the Kabba–Obajana–Lokoja highway before being dispersed by police.
