- Bandits who abducted 14 worshipers from the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Kogi State, have reduced their ransom demand from £500 million to £200 million and given a two-day deadline.
- The victims, who were abducted during a church service on November 30, included Pastor Orlando, seven of his family members and two infants. A widely circulated video showed the pastor’s family pleading with Governor Usman Ododo to intervene.
Bandits who kidnapped 14 believers of Ejibaki Rubim and Seraphim Church in Agbasi LGA, Kogi State, have issued a two-day ultimatum demanding a reduced ransom of ₦200 million. Initial demand was reported to be ₦500 million.
The kidnapping occurred on November 30, 2025, when attackers attacked the newly built church where a ceremony was being held. The 14 hostages include the presiding pastor, Orlando, seven of his family members, including six children, a three-week-old baby and a four-month-old baby.
A video circulating online captures the pastor’s family’s desperate pleas as the deadline approaches. Four women, including the elderly wife of the kidnapped pastor, were seen on their knees pleading with Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo for urgent intervention.
The old woman pleaded: “Please save us, the kidnappers are demanding more money than we can afford.”
While the family lamented the lack of public statements, the Kogi State government confirmed the attack and immediately launched a security operation to emphasize its stance not to negotiate with the bandits.
The 12th Lokoja Brigade of the Nigerian Army confirmed the rescue of six kidnapped victims on December 3, 2025, as a result of sustained military pressure. However, as the ransom deadline approaches, the fate of the remaining eight hostages, including the Orlando priest and the children, remains critical.
