SUNTV Global Channel – December 18, 2025
Ayetoro Kiri, Kogi State – Residents of Ayetoro Kiri community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area are fleeing their homes after armed assailants attacked the First ECWA Church, abducting more than 20 worshippers.
Videos obtained by SUNTV Global Channel show the town deserted, with empty streets, locked doors, and only roosters crowing in the silence. Families are relocating to nearby towns and villages in fear of further attacks.
The violent attack occurred on Sunday, December 14, when gunmen stormed the church during a worship session. Witnesses reported that the attackers fired sporadically to create panic before seizing over 20 people and escaping through nearby bush paths.
“This town is empty now. People are not waiting to be next,” a resident said. “When a church is attacked and people are taken just like that, you start packing your life into bags.”
Video footage shows residents fleeing in lorries, broken windows, and abandoned homes. “All these bandits have ‘killed’ our village. They have taken people to the bush, close to 40. Please, help us,” another resident pleaded.
The whereabouts of the abducted worshippers remain unknown. Security agencies are being called upon to intervene urgently, restore public confidence, and prevent complete displacement of the community.
Ayetoro Kiri now joins several Kogi communities experiencing mass displacement, highlighting the state’s ongoing insecurity and the urgent need for effective protection.
