Pastor Olawoye Kayode
Gunmen Pursue Church Official In New Security Fright
Armed Men Raid Church, Demand Whereabouts Of Senior Staffer
Unknown gunmen reportedly stormed a church compound in Nigeria and demanded to know the whereabouts of a senior church staff member, sparking renewed alarm over escalating targeted attacks on religious centres.
The episode, which took place recently at an unnamed church, saw the men confront another staffer and insist he disclose where the official was.
The worker declined to provide the information, and the men exited the church grounds after leaving behind their phone numbers.
The incident has deepened anxiety among worshippers and residents already contending with pervasive insecurity nationwide.
Eyewitness Details Confrontation And Menacing Questioning
An eyewitness account obtained by this newspaper states that the men approached a church worker and explicitly asked for the location of a key church official.
The men, believed to belong to an organised criminal group, reportedly pressed to know where the official was at that particular time.
The church worker refused to comply and did not share the requested details.
The men subsequently left their phone numbers and departed, leaving staff members and congregants shaken.
Growing Attacks On Churches Heighten Security Anxiety
The reported visit by the gunmen comes amid a surge in assaults on churches and other worship venues in Nigeria.
Figures compiled by SBM Intelligence and other security monitors show that banditry, kidnapping, and armed attacks continue to spread across numerous states.
A report from the Council on Foreign Relations’ Nigeria Security Tracker indicates that hundreds of incidents involving armed actors are recorded each year, affecting worship centres, schools, markets, and major roads.
Security experts say the trend indicates that churches and mosques now confront increased risks of targeted assaults and abductions.
Backdrop Of Deteriorating Security Across The Country
Recent headline-making incidents, such as the 2022 attack on a Catholic church in Owo, Ondo State, and multiple kidnappings of worshippers in Kaduna and Niger States, have reinforced fears about inadequate protection for religious venues.
International reports on religious freedom have also underscored the exposure of both Christian and Muslim communities to armed groups.
Residents say they now regard any unusual activity near churches as a potential security hazard.
The latest episode has therefore raised serious questions about how secure religious workers and congregants are during services and church-related events.
Effects On Everyday Nigerians And Local Congregations
The attempted targeting of a church staff member is likely to further heighten anxiety among ordinary Nigerians who depend on churches for social support and community services.
Many churches in Nigeria run schools, health clinics, food programmes, and counselling services, particularly in poorer neighbourhoods.
Insecurity around church grounds can interrupt these activities and restrict access for vulnerable households.
Parents may also become more hesitant to allow children to attend evening services, youth meetings, or choir practices.
Economic And Social Fallout
Security specialists caution that ongoing threats to religious spaces can intensify the economic strain already confronting citizens.
Churches often hire cleaners, security personnel, teachers, and administrative workers from surrounding communities.
If attendance drops because of fear, these jobs and the small informal businesses operating around church premises could be badly affected.
Transport operators, food sellers, and petty traders who rely on church events for daily income may also see reduced earnings.
Security Experts Tie Incident To Kidnapping And Extortion Pattern
Experts interviewed by this newspaper say the conduct of the gunmen resembles methods commonly used by kidnap-for-ransom networks.
One security consultant noted that leaving phone numbers after seeking a particular individual indicates a possible plan to establish contact, demand payment, or lure the person out.
In many kidnapping cases across Nigeria, criminals are said to profile targets and attempt to reach them through third parties before mounting full-scale attacks.
The recent church episode may therefore suggest preliminary surveillance activity or a foiled attempt to abduct the church official.
Wider Kidnapping Epidemic In Nigeria
Independent studies and media reports indicate that thousands of Nigerians have been abducted in the past decade, with ransom demands ranging from tens of thousands to millions of naira.
Reports by SB Morgen Intelligence suggest that kidnappers have extracted billions of naira in ransom payments in recent years, underscoring the magnitude of this illicit economy.
The failure of security forces to swiftly identify and dismantle these networks has encouraged more groups to join the trade.
Religious figures, entrepreneurs, students, and farmers have all been targeted.
Essential Facts And Key Points
The following important points emerge from the incident and broader security data:
• Gunmen visited a church and demanded to know the location of a senior church worker.
• The men departed only after the staffer they confronted declined to share any information.
• They left their phone numbers before leaving, hinting at possible future contact.
• The event aligns with a wider pattern of targeted attacks and abductions in Nigeria.
• Data from various security trackers reveal a sustained increase in armed violence and kidnappings.
• Religious centres remain exposed due to minimal formal security and open access to their premises.
Churches Strengthen Security Measures As Anxiety Grows
In response to repeated incidents nationwide, many churches have started reassessing their internal security protocols.
Some have introduced bag checks, volunteer security units, and closer collaboration with local vigilantes or police divisions.
Others have shortened evening services and shifted some programmes online to limit late-night movement.
However, many congregations, particularly in rural areas and low-income urban neighbourhoods, still lack the funds to install CCTV cameras, perimeter lighting, and professional guards.
Demands For More Robust Government Action
Civil society organisations and religious bodies have renewed demands on federal and state authorities to reinforce community policing and intelligence gathering.
They contend that security agencies must regard threats to churches and mosques as core national security concerns, not isolated episodes.
Analysts further argue that better data collection, quicker response, and visible patrols around known hotspots could deter armed groups.
Without such steps, citizens fear that attackers will keep probing the defences of soft targets like schools and worship centres.
What Regular Nigerians Can Do Immediately
Security consultants urge Nigerians who attend churches to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, vehicles, or enquiries about particular individuals.
They advise churches to maintain simple visitor records, keep up-to-date contacts with nearby police stations, and train ushers and workers on emergency procedures.
Members are also encouraged to avoid sharing sensitive personal information or travel plans with unknown callers, especially in the wake of incidents such as the one reported.
Timely reporting of strange visits, dropped phone numbers, or threats can give security agencies a better chance to intervene early.
Looking Ahead: Next Steps For Church Security And Governance
The reported visit by gunmen to a Nigerian church, and their search for a specific church worker, once again underscores the severity of the country’s security challenges.
In recent years, successive administrations have launched various security operations and reforms, yet figures from independent trackers show that armed violence and kidnapping remain rampant.
Unless authorities move beyond sporadic deployments and adopt a coordinated approach that safeguards soft targets, everyday Nigerians will continue to suffer the consequences of insecurity in their places of worship, schools, farms, and homes.
Analysts maintain that the path forward lies in a combination of stronger policing, improved intelligence, community collaboration, and firm political commitment to protect every citizen, from a church worker in a small parish to commuters on major highways.
