Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted three pastors at Ejule in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, shortly after ministering at an ongoing crusade in the town.

The report from the area said the hoodlums ambushed the pastors on the street of the town along Ejule-Ofakaga-Anyigba road at about 11pm on Monday, January 20, 2025 on their way out of the crusade ground.

The three pastors, one of whom was identified as Evang. Gabriel Onaji, were guest ministers at the three-day crusade that started on Sunday with the theme, ‘Ejule Gospel Crusade’,  hosted by a Kogi preacher, Evang. Sunday Oguche, president of God’s Care Missions, Okpo, in the state.

“Evangelist Sunday Oguche appeared to be the target of the kidnappers. The evangelist would have been kidnapped if not that he opted to spend the night at Anyigba, instead of Ejule, It was gathered.

“The three guest ministers at the crusade were on their way to their guest house to rest for the night after the closing of the second day of the 3-day crusade when they were ambushed by the hoodlums and whisked away to a yet-to-be-established destination.

“Their saloon car, which they drove in was found abandoned by the roadside in Ofakaga village along Ejule-Anyigba road.

“The kidnappers are demanding N20 million ransom for the release of the guest ministers,” said Ayefu John, a resident of Ejule who claimed to have attended the crusade, and was close to one of the abducted pastors.

Evang. Gabriel Onaji, one of the abducted ministers, is said to have been the immediate past Pastor of the United Evangelical Church (UEC) Headquarters, Okele Road in Ejule, before his transfer to Lokoja last year.

The identity of the two other abducted pastors is still unknown, but locals confirmed them as associate pastors who came to Ejule in the team of Evang. Sunday Oguche, the crusade chief organiser.

The Kogi State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Williams Aya, was contacted but did not respond at the time of filing the report.