Fear has gripped parts of Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, after gunmen abducted Pastor Friday Adehi of the Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN) and a church member, Gabriel Ezekiel.

The incident happened on Sunday, August 24, 2025, shortly after church service. According to eyewitnesses, the victims were returning from a naming ceremony on a motorcycle along the Ajegwu–Ojodu Road when the gunmen, who had been lying in wait, ambushed them.

“The kidnappers suddenly appeared from the bush, stopped them at gunpoint, and marched them into the forest,” a source said.

In response, the CEFN Church and other Christian faithful have declared prayers and fasting for God’s intervention and the safe release of the abducted members.

Meanwhile, the Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) and Ukomu Igala, two leading socio-cultural organisations, have urged the Kogi State government to adopt drone technology to track kidnappers and bandits operating in forests. They believe the use of drones will help the joint security task force clamp down on criminal hideouts and reduce ransom-driven abductions.

The incident adds to the rising concerns over insecurity in Kogi and across many parts of Nigeria, where communities remain vulnerable to armed groups.