Gunmen Kill Residents, Behead Five, Kidnap Others in Ebonyi Attack as Kaduna Abductors Demand ₦250 Million Ransom

Unidentified gunmen have launched a deadly attack on Okporojo community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, killing several residents and abducting others in a violent raid that has left the area in fear and mourning.

According to information gathered, the assailants stormed the community in the late hours, ambushing residents and setting multiple houses on fire as people fled for safety. Witnesses said the attackers moved through different parts of the village, causing widespread panic and destruction.

During the assault, it was alleged that five persons were killed in a particularly brutal manner, with the attackers reportedly fleeing the community afterward. Many residents were said to have escaped into nearby bushes and neighboring communities to avoid being harmed.

A video from the scene, which has since circulated widely on social media, showed houses engulfed in flames and distraught residents appealing to the Ebonyi State Government and security agencies for urgent intervention. Community members described the attack as one of the most devastating incidents in recent times, noting that livelihoods were destroyed and families displaced.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Ebonyi State Police Command nor the state government had issued an official statement on the attack. However, residents are calling for increased security presence in the area to prevent further violence and reassure displaced villagers.

Meanwhile, in a related development highlighting the growing insecurity across the country, gunmen who abducted about 177 worshippers during church services in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded a ransom of ₦250 million and 20 motorcycles before releasing the victims.

The abduction occurred on January 17, 2026, in Kurmin Wali community, while worshippers were attending services in three churches, namely Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1, Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2, and the Evangelical Church Winning All.

Confirming the development, the Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, said the abductors contacted the community days after the incident and laid out their conditions for the release of the captives.

According to him, the gunmen accused residents of stealing 17 motorcycles they claimed were lost during previous military operations in Kajuru. They further alleged that parts were removed from the remaining motorcycles, insisting that the community must provide replacements alongside the cash ransom.

Security agencies are yet to officially confirm the ransom demand, but efforts to secure the release of the abducted worshippers are believed to be ongoing. Community leaders have continued to appeal to the government and security forces to intensify rescue operations and address the root causes of the recurring attacks.

The incidents in Ebonyi and Kaduna states have once again raised serious concerns about the worsening security situation in several parts of the country, as citizens call for decisive action to protect lives, property, and places of worship.