Gunmen Abduct Six Worshippers in Midnight Raid on Ondo Celestial Church; One Rescued, Suspect Arrested

 

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at a branch of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Uso, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Suspected gunmen stormed the church premises along the Uso-Owo Expressway (also referred to as Owo/Benin or Owo-Akure Expressway in some reports) around 12:50 a.m. while an early morning or midnight service was ongoing.

The attackers abducted six worshippers and whisked them away to an unknown destination, causing panic among congregants. No fatalities or injuries were reported in the immediate attack, though the invasion disrupted the service and heightened fears in the community.

Ondo State Police Command spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh confirmed the abduction in a statement released on Wednesday. He noted that security forces, including police operatives, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilante groups, swiftly mobilized to the scene and launched coordinated rescue operations.

Positive developments include:

One of the abducted victims has been rescued.

Authorities have arrested at least one suspect in connection with the incident.

Efforts continue to locate and free the remaining victims.

This attack adds to ongoing security concerns in parts of Ondo State, particularly in the Owo area, which has experienced previous violent incidents targeting places of worship (though this appears distinct from earlier mass casualty events like the 2022 Owo church massacre).