Kogi Church Kidnapping: Bandits Issue 48-Hour Ultimatum, Demand ₦200m for Pastor and 13 Others

Bandits who abducted 14 worshippers from the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Kogi State, have given families a 48-hour deadline to pay a reduced ransom of ₦200 million. The victims include the presiding pastor, his wife, six children, a three-week-old baby, and a four-month-old infant. Over a week after the November 30 attack, families say the state government has made no public intervention, prompting desperate appeals for help as conditions of the hostages reportedly worsen.

House of Reps Summons CBN Governor Cardoso Over Alleged N16 Trillion Unremitted Funds

The House of Representatives has summoned Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso over allegations that the apex bank failed to remit more than ₦16 trillion in operating surplus and revenue to the government. The decision followed a motion by Public Accounts Committee Chairman Bamidele Salam, citing findings from the 2022 Auditor-General’s report, which highlighted financial irregularities linked to the Remita revenue collection system from 2015–2016. Despite disagreements among lawmakers on how to proceed, the House mandated the Public Accounts Committee to continue the investigation. Rights group SERAP had earlier demanded accountability from the CBN over missing public funds flagged in the same report.


#CBN
#HouseOfReps
#PublicFunds

SERAP Demands INEC Account for Missing N55.9bn Election Funds, Threatens Legal Action

SERAP has asked INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan to immediately explain the reported disappearance or diversion of N55.9 billion meant for procuring smart card readers, ballot papers, and other materials for the 2019 elections. The demand follows revelations in the Auditor-General’s 2022 report, which detailed irregular payments, lack of documentation, inflated contracts, and possible diversion of funds. SERAP insists on full disclosure of the contractors involved, refund of missing money, and prosecution of all implicated persons, warning it will take legal action if INEC fails to act within seven days.

Bandits Demand N500m Ransom for Abducted Kogi Pastor and Church Worshippers



Armed bandits who raided a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Kogi State, have contacted the family of the abducted pastor and worshippers, demanding a N500 million ransom. The attack, which occurred during Sunday service, prompted state authorities to launch aerial and ground security operations. Officials condemned the incident as security agencies intensify efforts to rescue the victims.


#KogiKidnapping

#Banditry

#SecurityCrisis

BREAKING: Bandits Demand N500 Million Ransom for Abducted Kogi Pastor and Worshippers




Armed bandits who attacked the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA of Kogi State on Sunday, November 30, 2025, have contacted the family of the abducted pastor and several worshippers, demanding a ransom of N500 million for their release. The pastor, popularly known as Orlando, and an unspecified number of congregants were taken during the violent raid.

Sources close to the family revealed the ransom demand as security agencies continue surveillance operations. Earlier, the Kogi State Government launched both aerial and ground manhunts, deploying a helicopter and anti-kidnapping squads to track the attackers.

Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, condemned the attack as “deeply disturbing,” warning that criminals may have been hiding in the area days before the assault. He urged residents to be more vigilant and provide intelligence to prevent further attacks, especially in a region with recent incidents of church-related abductions.

Pastor and Wife Abducted as Gunmen Attack Church During Service in Kogi

Gunmen have attacked a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the pastor and his wife during Sunday service.

The incident threw the community into panic as armed bandits stormed the church mid-worship, forcing members to flee for safety. Security operatives have reportedly begun investigations as residents call for urgent intervention to curb rising attacks in the area.

#KogiState #SecurityAlert #NigeriaNews #ChurchAttack

Pastor and Wife Abducted as Gunmen Attack Church During Service in Kogi

Gunmen have attacked a newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the pastor and his wife during Sunday service.

The incident threw the community into panic as armed bandits stormed the church mid-worship, forcing members to flee for safety. Security operatives have reportedly begun investigations as residents call for urgent intervention to curb rising attacks in the area.

#KogiState #SecurityAlert #NigeriaNews #ChurchAttack

BREAKING: Kogi Govt Deploys Helicopter, Anti-Kidnapping Squad After Church Attack

The Kogi State Government has launched both aerial and ground security operations following a violent attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA.

Video footage shared by Egbe Emekun Parrot shows a state-deployed helicopter and anti-kidnapping unit combing the area in pursuit of the armed attackers.

During the assault, the church pastor, popularly known as Orlando, and an unconfirmed number of worshippers were reportedly abducted. Residents are anxious as the operation continues to track the perpetrators and secure the victims’ safe release.

Footage from the scene shows the church interior in disarray, with shoes and Bibles left behind. A witness filming said:

“I hid myself; this is the church where they kidnapped people… Baba Orlando, the head of this church, was taken. They didn’t even turn off the speaker.”

This attack adds to a worrying trend of violence against places of worship in Kogi and neighboring states. Just weeks ago, on November 18, bandits attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State, killing five people and abducting 38 worshippers, including women, children, and the elderly.

Security agencies successfully rescued the Kwara victims after coordinated operations, raising hopes that the Kogi abductees will also be freed safely.

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#KogiInsecurity #ChurchAttack #NigeriaNews

Bandits Attack Kogi Church, Kidnap Pastor, Wife & Worshippers — Video Shows Chaos Inside

A disturbing video from Ejiba, Yagba West (Kogi State) shows the shocking aftermath of a bandit attack on a Cherubim & Seraphim church this Sunday.

According to eyewitnesses, the armed men stormed the church during service and abducted the pastor (Orlando), his wife, and several worshippers.

The footage shows scattered Bibles, shoes and belongings, with the witness saying:

“This is where they kidnapped people… Baba Orlando was taken.”

This incident adds to the rising wave of attacks on churches and communities in Kogi and nearby states. Residents are calling for urgent security intervention as fear spreads across the region.

Stay alert. Stay informed.
Share to raise awareness.

#KogiInsecurity #ChurchAttack #BreakingNews

Terrørists reportedly att@cked Cherubim and Seraphim Church during church service earlier this morning in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA of Kogi State and åbdûcted some church members

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, “to promptly account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing or diverted N3 trillion of public funds, as documented in the recently published 2022 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.” SERAP said the grave allegations are documented in the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025.

SERAP Asks INEC Chair Nominee Amupitan To Make Prosecuting Electoral Crimes Top Priority

Account for N14trn fuel subsidy savings or face legal action’, SERAP tells 36 governors, Wike.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike to “urgently disclose the spending details of the estimated N14trn fuel subsidy savings they collected from FAAC allocations, including details and locations of projects executed with the money, and the implementation status and completion reports, if any, on the projects.”

SERAP urged them to “provide details of the plans on how subsequent fuel subsidy savings they expect to collect from FAAC allocations, including details of any planned projects on which the money would be spent.”

SERAP also urged them to “publicly invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to track and monitor the spending of the fuel subsidy savings collected by you, to ensure that the money is not diverted into private pockets.”

The 36 governors and the FCT minister have reportedly collected trillions of naira from FAAC allocations as fuel subsidy savings since mid-2023. But the increased allocations have not translated into improved access to basic public services, such as quality healthcare and education for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

In the Freedom of Information requests dated 4 October 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest for governors and the FCT minister to urgently explain how they have spent the money they have so far collected from the subsidy savings.”

SERAP said, “The savings from the removal of fuel subsidy ought to be spent solely for the benefit of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of the removal. Transparency in the spending of the money would help to avoid a morally repugnant result of double jeopardy on these Nigerians.”

The FoI requests, read in part: “There is a significant risk of mismanagement or diversion of funds linked to the increased FAAC allocations collected by the states and FCT.”

“The spending details of the money collected by several states and the FCT from fuel subsidy savings have been mostly shrouded in secrecy.”

Shock as Nigerian beggars launch their organization.

A fresh controversy erupts as Nigerian beggars launch their organization, with details of their Chief Executive Officer (CEO) emerging online.

This was disclosed in a viral video on the popular video-sharing platform, TikTok.

Nigerian beggars launch their organization

In the viral video, the CEO of the organization proudly flaunted an identification card confirming his membership.

According to him, the organization is open to fulfilling the dreams of aspiring beggars into its membership.

“”We’ve an association you can join and I’m their CEO. Is your dream to be a professional beggar?. Are you dreaming to be a professional beggar in Nigeria?. With our institution, your dream cab become true and real “, He stated.

Prior to the launch of the organization, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, states that beggars in Abuja need systemic support and rehabilitation programs to break the cycle of poverty, rather than merely formalizing their profession.

Additionally, Wike threatened to arrest beggars, sparking public debate.

However, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged him to withdraw the threat, emphasizing dignity and human rights for marginalized individuals.

The organization highlighted the need to address poverty root causes and violations of economic and social rights, especially for Abuja residents.

SERAP Demands Senate Reinstate Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

the Clerk of the National Assembly on August 28, noting that her six-month suspension had elapsed and citing a July court judgment that declared her suspension excessive and unlawful. However, the Acting Clerk, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, said the matter remains subjudice due to an appeal filed by the Senate President. SERAP insisted that pending court cases cannot be used to block her resumption and demanded that her salaries and allowances be paid.

#Senate #SERAP #NatashaAkpotiUduaghan

Unlawful,’ SERAP Faults FG Over Passport Fee Hike
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government to urgently reverse the new passport fees announced by the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Veteran Nollywood Actor Chief Kanran Passes On at 69 After A Brief Illness.

Veteran Nollywood actor Olusegun Akinremi, popularly known as Chief Kanran, has d+ed at 69, just three days before his 70th birthday. A family source said the Yoruba film star passed away in a Lagos hospital on Friday after a brief.

As of Friday evening, no official statement had been released. Famed for his charismatic portrayals of wealthy characters in Yoruba films, Chief Kanran also graced stage and TV productions for over five decades.

He began acting as a child, later training at the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, and was mentored by the late Ayanfemi Phillips. His work spanned Yoruba and English productions, including the TV soap Megafortune.

In later years, he faced severe personal and financial hardships. In a 2015 radio interview, he revealed that a 2017 fir+ d+stroyed his home, studio, and equipment, leaving him homeless after also losing his wife to cancer.

“My house got b¥rnt, my wife and children left me… I’ve been sleeping in a church for over a year. Feeding has been difficult,” he said. A devout Cherubim and Seraphim member, he was known for wearing his own clothes on set, avoiding borrowed costumes.

Chief Kanran’s legacy endures through his mentorship of younger actors and his lasting impact on Yoruba cinema.

SERAP Gives Niger Governor 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Badeggi FM Shutdown

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, demanding the reversal of his administration’s closure of Badeggi FM 90.1 in Minna.

Governor Bago had ordered the shutdown, licence revocation, and profiling of the station’s owner, accusing it of unethical broadcasting and incitement. SERAP described the move as unlawful and a threat to press freedom, urging the governor to reinstate the station’s licence and guarantee staff safety.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also condemned the action, calling it an abuse of power and insisting that only the National Broadcasting Commission has the authority to revoke broadcast licences.

Abuja Court Dismisses INEC’s Bid to Halt Prosecution of 2023 Election Offenders

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) attempt to overturn a judgment mandating it to investigate and prosecute electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling delivered on July 23, 2025, dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection, declaring that his July 18, 2024 judgment was final and not a default ruling as claimed by the Commission.

The court reaffirmed that only the Court of Appeal can overturn the judgment, not the same court via administrative excuses.

The case followed a suit by SERAP, which accused INEC of failing to act on electoral violence, bribery, and vote-buying. Justice Egwuatu’s earlier ruling directed INEC to appoint independent counsel and prosecute offenders, including political office holders.

The contempt hearing against INEC is set for October 20, 2025.#INEC, #SERAP, #ElectoralOffences, #NigeriaElections2023, #ElectionViolence,

Killings: SERAP tells governors to account for security votes.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged state governors to account for the spending of public funds in the name of security votes since May 29, 2023, to guarantee and ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians resident in the states.

SERAP also urged the governors to urgently invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly investigate, track and monitor the spending of security votes by the states.

In a Freedom of Information request at the weekend, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said that in the wake of the Benue massacre and well-documented ongoing cases of insecurity in several states, there had been a legitimate public call for governors to account for how they spend security votes.

SERAP said the escalating insecurity in several states was taking a toll on socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians, driving up extreme poverty, intensifying hunger, and leading to other grave human rights violations.

According to the body, the framers of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) never contemplated opaque spending of public funds as security votes.