Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed the son of a minister in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and abducted his wife during a violent attack in Mararaba, a Nasarawa State community bordering Abuja.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday last week, targeted Pastor Austin Ifeji’s residence. Reports indicate that the assailants stormed his home heavily armed, breaking in with force.
According to sources, the pastor’s son attempted to resist the kidnappers and protect his mother but was overpowered. The gunmen shot him and inflicted severe machete cuts on him in front of his siblings, leaving the entire family in horror. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Pastor Ifeji himself was also attacked and sustained machete wounds but managed to escape. Seeing that their primary target had fled, the assailants turned their focus on his wife, forcefully taking her away.
Witnesses reported that after abducting the pastor’s wife, the kidnappers reached out to the family, demanding a ransom of ₦30 million for her release.
A neighbor, speaking anonymously to Daily Trust, revealed that the community was thrown into panic following the attack, as residents fear further assaults by criminal gangs operating in the area.
Despite the gruesome nature of the attack, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Rahman Nansel, stated that the command was not aware of the incident. This has raised concerns over security lapses and the rising cases of violent crimes in border towns between Abuja and Nasarawa State.
The abduction is part of a growing trend of kidnappings in Nigeria, where criminals target religious leaders, their families, and other prominent figures in demand for ransom. Many Nigerians have expressed frustration over the continued insecurity, calling on the government to take decisive action against armed bandits terrorizing communities.
As of the time of filing this report, details about the pastor’s wife’s fate remain unclear, and efforts to secure her release are ongoing.