Gunmen attacked a church in Nigeria’s Kogi state and abducted worshipers along with the pastor during a Sunday morning service.
The kidnappings come amid a sharp increase in kidnappings across Nigeria.
What do we know so far about the kidnappings?
Nigerian media reported overnight that the target in Kogi was the “Cherubim and Seraphim” church in Ejiba village, where twelve people, including the pastor, were taken.
Officials have confirmed the incident. Kogi state spokesperson Kingsley Femi Fanwo criticized some pastors for continuing to encourage congregants to gather in remote locations despite the known risks.
Nigeria’s NAN news agency quoted him as saying that pastors sometimes underestimate the threat posed by armed groups. No public information has yet been revealed about the suspected criminals.
In a separate attack in the northeastern Sokoto state, a bride and 10 of her friends were abducted from a village on Saturday.
More than 400 people have been detained in the past two weeks, including a large number of children and teenagers.
On 21 November, gunmen attacked the Catholic St. Mary’s School boarding facility in Papiri, Niger State, capturing more than 300 people. Details about the 265 children who remain missing have not been made public.
Armed gangs also abducted 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi state on 17 November.
What is behind the kidnapping?
Observers are divided over the motivations behind the attacks in Africa’s most populous country, home to about 235 million people. Between 2013 and 2015, the Islamist group Boko Haram carried out mass kidnappings, including several thousand victims.
However, in recent years, experts say that many kidnappings have been motivated primarily by financial motives involving ransom demands.
The inclusion of clergy among those targeted is believed to reflect perceptions that churches may be more willing or able to pay ransom.
Authorities have warned that the pattern of attacks highlights a growing criminal economy based around kidnapping schemes for profit.
Edited by: Kieran Burke