Nigerian Pastor and Bride Among 20 Abducted in Recent Attacks

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:13:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The recent abduction incidents in Nigeria highlight the increasing violence faced by vulnerable communities, including places of worship and schools, with calls for improved security measures.

In the latest wave of abductions in Nigeria, at least 20 individuals, including a pastor and a bride with her bridesmaids, have been kidnapped by gunmen in separate incidents. These attacks underscore a troubling trend of targeted violence against churches and educational institutions, raising concerns over the safety of rural communities and the effectiveness of security efforts in the country.

Gunmen have abducted at least 20 people, including a pastor and a new bride, in two separate attacks in the latest Nigerian kidnappings.

Attackers stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Sunday in the central Kogi state, firing shots and forcing congregants to flee in panic. They seized the pastor, his wife, and several worshippers.

In another raid the night before in the northern Sokoto state, a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped. A baby, the baby's mother, and another woman were also taken, the AFP news agency reports.

Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.

It is unclear who is behind the kidnappings—most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments; however, a presidential spokesman has told the BBC they believe they are the work of jihadist groups.

Kogi state government spokesman Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the attack in Ejiba to the BBC but was unable to confirm the numbers. He mentioned that authorities are working to track down the attackers.

In the Sokoto state attack, local media reported that the bride had been preparing for her wedding ceremony the following morning and was seized alongside friends and other guests who had gone to support her.

Approximately 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still believed to be missing following the biggest such attack in recent weeks, while those seized in other raids have reportedly been released.

The spate of abductions has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities. It adds to pressure on authorities to bolster protection for those at risk—schools, churches, and isolated communities.

Paying ransoms has been outlawed in a bid to stop the lucrative kidnapping industry; however, it is widely believed that such payments are still being made.

Nigeria's security crisis attracted international attention last month after US President Donald Trump threatened to send troops if the government continues to allow the killing of Christians. Nigerian officials and analysts assert that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and refute claims that Christians are specifically targeted.

Additional reporting by Basillioh Rukanga