Surge in Abductions: Pastor and Bride Among 20 Kidnapped in Nigeria

Fri Dec 05 2025 03:50:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a shocking wave of violence, at least 20 individuals, including a pastor and his bride, have been abducted during two separate attacks in Nigeria's Kogi and Sokoto states, raising alarms about the ongoing security crisis in the region.

Gunmen targeted a worship service, abducting a pastor, his new bride, and several congregants in Kogi state, while a bridal party was taken in a separate assault in Sokoto. Security efforts are underway as communities voice concerns over the rise in violence against vulnerable populations.

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 northern Sokoto state, a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped. A baby, the baby's mother, and another woman were also taken, according to reports from the AFP news agency.

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

It is not clear who is behind the kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments; however, a presidential spokesman has suggested they may be the work of jihadist groups.

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

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

Some 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still believed to be missing following the largest 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, adding pressure on authorities to bolster protection for those at risk, including schools, churches, and isolated communities.

Although paying ransoms has been outlawed to deter the lucrative kidnapping industry, it is widely believed that such payments continue to occur.

Nigeria's security crisis received international attention last month when US President Donald Trump threatened to send troops if the government continues to allow the killing of Christians. Nigerian officials and analysts assert that victims of violence and kidnappings belong to all faiths and emphasize that it is not accurate to claim Christians are being specifically targeted.