Reverend Father Wilfred Ezemba, priest at St. Paul Catholic Parish in Agaliga-Efabo, Olamaboro, Kogi State, was seized at gunpoint on the evening of Saturday, September 13, 2025, along the Imane-Ogugu Road. Villagers say he may have been taken alongside other passengers traveling that same route.
The abduction stunned the Catholic community. Since the kidnapping, there has been no contact from the abductors. Church members however hold onto faith, confident of his safe return through prayer.
Security forces, including the police, military, and local neighborhood watch groups, have mobilized to track the kidnappers through nearby forests and bushes. These agencies are coordinating efforts in hopes of rescuing him quickly.
This incident followed closely on the heels of another kidnapping in the area just days earlier. Local legal professionals, community leaders and civil society are calling on government authorities to improve security, pointing out a troubling pattern in recent abductions around Olamaboro and neighbouring roads.
As anxiety spreads, the authorities have acknowledged the case but have yet to share detailed findings publicly. For now, the community waits, hoping for updates—and ultimately, for Father Ezemba’s safe return.
The abduction of Reverend Father Wilfred Ezemba adds to a growing list of kidnapping incidents in Kogi East. The Olamaboro–Ogugu–Imane axis has long been identified as a hotspot where gunmen frequently target travelers, clergy, and community leaders. Only a few months earlier, local reports highlighted multiple attacks on commercial vehicles along the same stretch of road.
Kogi State has experienced a rise in abductions in recent years, with religious figures increasingly becoming victims. Many incidents are linked to criminal groups seeking ransom, while others highlight wider insecurity in border communities between Kogi, Enugu, and Benue States. This has fueled public outcry for more visible security patrols, community policing, and intelligence-driven responses.
