Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded Agyaragu, a community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, on Sunday night, abducting Mrs. Patience Nasamu, the wife of a local pastor, and a female church member.
The victims were taken from the home of Pastor Samuel Nasamu, who leads the Word of God Church in the area. The attack, which happened around 8:15 p.m., has left residents in shock and raised concerns about growing insecurity in rural parts of the state.
Pastor Nasamu, who recounted the traumatic event, said his wife, a nursing mother to a three-month-old baby, was taken alongside a church member who had come to visit them after a Sunday service.
“I had stepped out briefly to pray for a sick member of the church when my wife called me. All I could hear was her praying loudly; she couldn’t explain what was happening,” he said. “When I rushed back home, both my wife and the visitor were gone. They left our newborn baby behind.”
Narrating the incident, the pastor said the kidnappers targeted his apartment specifically. They arrived on motorcycles, and despite attempts to break in using hammers, they resorted to shooting sporadically to force his wife to open the door. In her attempt to flee, she and the church visitor were captured.
Local residents said they noticed suspicious movements earlier in the evening. “Around 7:00 p.m., some unfamiliar faces on motorcycles were seen around the area,” a neighbour said. “Shortly after, we started hearing gunshots.”
Since the abduction, the kidnappers have not made any contact or demands, leaving the pastor and the entire community in deep worry. Pastor Nasamu confirmed that the police visited the scene after the attack and urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue.
A resident who spoke anonymously decried the worsening security situation in Agyaragu and surrounding communities. “We now live in fear. People are being kidnapped daily—farmers, traders, and ordinary citizens,” he said. “It is getting out of hand.”
He called on Governor Abdullahi Sule and security agencies to take immediate steps to restore peace and protect lives. “Our people are being kidnapped and killed if ransom is not paid. Agyaragu is at the mercy of bandits. Something urgent needs to be done.”
The incident is the latest in a series of abductions and violent attacks in parts of Nasarawa, which have become increasingly common, especially in rural communities.
Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement, but sources say a joint task force is working to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
As of the time of filing this report, no ransom demand has been made and the fate of the kidnapped women remains unknown.
