Gunmen have abducted at least 20 people, including a pastor and a new bride, in two separate attacks in the latest Nigerian kidnappings.
Attackers stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Sunday in the central Kogi state, firing shots and forcing congregants to flee in panic. They seized the pastor, his wife, and several worshippers.
In another raid the night before in the northern Sokoto state, a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped. A baby, the baby's mother, and another woman were also taken, according to the AFP news agency.
Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.
It is not clear who is behind the kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments; however, a presidential spokesman has reported that they believe jihadist groups may be involved.
Kogi state government spokesman Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the attack in Ejiba to the BBC but was unable to confirm the numbers. He mentioned that authorities are working to track down the attackers.
In the attack in the mostly Muslim Sokoto state, local media reported that the bride had been preparing for a wedding ceremony the following morning and was seized alongside her friends and other guests who had gone to support her.
Some 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still believed to be missing following the biggest such attack in recent weeks, while those seized in other raids have reportedly been released.
The spate of abductions has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities and adds pressure on authorities to bolster protection for those at risk - schools, churches, and isolated communities.
Paying ransoms has been outlawed in an attempt to stop the lucrative kidnapping industry, but it is widely believed that such payments continue to occur.
Nigeria's security crisis gained international attention last month when US President Donald Trump threatened to send in troops if the government continues to allow the killing of Christians. However, Nigerian officials and analysts say that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and stress that it is not accurate to say that Christians are being specifically targeted.
Attackers stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Sunday in the central Kogi state, firing shots and forcing congregants to flee in panic. They seized the pastor, his wife, and several worshippers.
In another raid the night before in the northern Sokoto state, a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped. A baby, the baby's mother, and another woman were also taken, according to the AFP news agency.
Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.
It is not clear who is behind the kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments; however, a presidential spokesman has reported that they believe jihadist groups may be involved.
Kogi state government spokesman Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the attack in Ejiba to the BBC but was unable to confirm the numbers. He mentioned that authorities are working to track down the attackers.
In the attack in the mostly Muslim Sokoto state, local media reported that the bride had been preparing for a wedding ceremony the following morning and was seized alongside her friends and other guests who had gone to support her.
Some 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still believed to be missing following the biggest such attack in recent weeks, while those seized in other raids have reportedly been released.
The spate of abductions has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities and adds pressure on authorities to bolster protection for those at risk - schools, churches, and isolated communities.
Paying ransoms has been outlawed in an attempt to stop the lucrative kidnapping industry, but it is widely believed that such payments continue to occur.
Nigeria's security crisis gained international attention last month when US President Donald Trump threatened to send in troops if the government continues to allow the killing of Christians. However, Nigerian officials and analysts say that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and stress that it is not accurate to say that Christians are being specifically targeted.
