• ONSA reunites 128 rescued victims with families
Gunmen have abducted the pastor of the Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN), Friday Adehi, and another church member, Gabriel Ezekiel, in Ofun Local Council of Kogi State.
The duo, who were kidnapped shortly after church service on Sunday, were reportedly travelling on a motorcycle when they ran into the kidnappers along Ajegwu-Ojodu Road in the same council area.
The abductees were said to have attended a naming of another member of the church after their Sunday service, and were returning to their residence in Itobe when they were abducted at gunpoint.
“The incident happened between 3 and 4p.m. on 24th August 2025 (Sunday) when both members of the church were returning from Ojodu to Itobe. The pastor was riding on his bike with another man accompanying him.
“Then the kidnappers, who were lying in ambush, suddenly burst onto the road when they sighted the motorcyclist approaching. The kidnappers stopped them at gunpoint and directed them into the bush,” an eyewitness told newsmen.
The CEFN Church and other Christian faithful have since declared prayers and fasting for God’s intervention in the safety and freedom of church members.
EQUALLY, the Katsina State Police command has confirmed the abduction of a couple and their daughter in the metropolis.
The victims were identified as Anas Ahmed, his wife, Halimatu, and their little daughter from the Katsina metropolitan area.
The incident occurred in the wee hours of yesterday at Flilin Kanana community, located in Sabuwar Unguwa, Kofar Kaura area of the state capital.
The bandits also killed a local security guard, who was said to be patrolling the community when the incident occurred.
Yesterday’s assault comes a few days after bandits stormed Unguwan Mantau community in Malumfashi council area, where they killed more than 40 worshippers in a mosque.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Aliyu, while confirming the incident, said CP Bello Shehu visited the scene and deployed additional personnel for the prompt rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators.
MEANWHILE, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has reunited 128 rescued kidnap victims with their families in Abuja.
The victims, comprising males, females and children, were rescued by security forces in two different operations at Kaura Namoda in Zamfara State.
Ribadu said the victims would be treated for trauma and resettled in their communities.
He commended security forces and assured that the perpetrators would be brought to justice, warning, “Let us take politics out of security challenges.”
Earlier, the National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka said one of the rescued children died due to illness, while a premature baby delivered during the rescue operation was being incubated in a medical facility.
