The Kogi State Government has directed churches across the state to suspend night services with immediate effect, citing credible intelligence of a planned terrorist attack on worship centres.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that security agencies intercepted conversations among suspected bandits plotting to attack a church in Ijumu Local Government Area.
According to Fanwo, the assailants specifically mentioned a church that allegedly continued to hold late-night services despite repeated security warnings. He said the criminals were overheard boasting about making “a lot of money” by abducting worshippers for ransom during a service.
He noted that security agencies have launched coordinated operations to avert the planned attack but stressed the need for strict adherence to government directives.
“It is deeply concerning that despite clear security advisories, some churches still operate late into the night. This is unacceptable given the prevailing security situation,” Fanwo said.
He reiterated that churches in the state are not permitted to hold services beyond 4 p.m. and directed those located in remote or bushy areas to relocate to safer environments to safeguard their congregants.
Fanwo warned that any church that defies the directive would face sanctions, describing non-compliance as reckless and a threat to public safety.
“This measure is not an attack on faith or worship. It is a proactive step to protect lives. Any church that deliberately ignores this protocol poses a security risk to its members,” he stated.
He also instructed security operatives to ensure that pastors refrain from organising night services, emphasising that the government prefers preventive measures to rescue missions.
“Our goal is to prevent crime rather than scrambling to secure the release of kidnapped victims,” he added.
The government dismissed claims that the directive reflects weakness, insisting it remains resolute in tackling criminal activities in the state.
The warning follows a series of attacks on churches in Kogi. In December 2025, gunmen reportedly abducted at least 20 worshippers during a Sunday service at the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. One person, identified as JayJay, was killed in the attack.
Witnesses said the attackers fired sporadically to cause panic before whisking away several congregants through nearby bush paths, leaving the community in shock.
In a similar incident on November 30, 2025, armed men stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting a cleric identified as Orlando and about 13 worshippers. The kidnappers initially demanded ₦500 million in ransom, later reducing it to ₦200 million and issuing a two-day ultimatum.
Residents say the repeated attacks on rural communities, schools, and places of worship have heightened fears and renewed calls for stronger security measures across the state.
