Information
Gunmen attacked a church in Ejiba, Kogi state, Nigeria, abducting at least twelve people, including the pastor, during a Sunday service. Authorities confirmed the assault and warned that remote religious gatherings remain vulnerable to armed groups. The incident follows a surge in kidnappings across the country, including the abduction of a bride and her bridesmaids in Sokoto state and several large-scale school raids in Niger and Kebbi states. More than 400 people, many of them children, have been kidnapped in the past two weeks.
While past mass abductions in Nigeria were often linked to Islamist militants like Boko Haram, security experts say most current cases are financially motivated, driven by ransom payments. The recent targeting of clergy suggests that criminal groups believe churches may pay more readily to secure the release of their members. Officials warn that the accelerating trend reflects the rise of a dangerous kidnap-for-profit economy across northern Nigeria.
Source: AFP, epd, KNA
So What
Kidnappings and attacks on religious communities remain a persistent security challenge in Nigeria, as reinforced by recent reporting. This incident may draw increased international attention to violence targeting Christians in the country. While direct U.S. military intervention is unlikely, Washington may respond by expanding support to Nigerian and regional security forces to help counter armed groups and reduce the threat to civilian populations.
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