Chaos In Nasarawa! Worshippers Scamper For Safety As Herdsmen Storm Church Crusade

Worshippers fled in panic on Monday night after suspected herdsmen reportedly disrupted an open-air church crusade in the Agboda community of Nasarawa State.

A viral video circulating on Tuesday captured congregants scattering in multiple directions as confusion erupted at the crusade venue. The Christian gathering, attended by residents and youths of Agboda Village, descended into chaos when a group of suspected herdsmen approached the area, according to eyewitness accounts.

In the footage, a man narrating the scene said: “We came for a crusade in this community today, and look at what the herdsmen did. People are running… everyone is in fear because of the herdsmen here in Nasarawa State.”

Although the video showed frantic movement and disorder, no weapons or direct acts of violence were observed.

Speaking with Vanguard, the crusade organiser, Dr. Daniel Ukpo, said the incident happened between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. while participants were gathered for the programme. According to him, the panic started after news spread that a nearby community had just been attacked.

He explained: “A youth in the community was attacked while riding his motorcycle and was cut with a machete. His motorcycle was taken. When people heard about it, tension rose and everyone started running.”

Ukpo noted that the crusade was forced to end abruptly due to the heightened fear.

He raised concerns about recurring security threats in the Mararaba Udege axis, recalling a recent visit to the Ochimi community where residents expressed fear over insecurity and destruction of crops.

He also lamented the inadequate security presence in the area. “People are being attacked on the roads and on their farms, and many incidents go unreported,” he said.

Ukpo further alleged that previous religious gatherings in the region had been disrupted by individuals he described as armed herdsmen.

“The troubling thing is that residents here feel unprotected. Many have nowhere else to go and are living in fear,” he added.

As of the time of filing this report, no injuries or deaths had been confirmed. Officials in Nasarawa State have not yet issued an official statement.

The scare adds to growing concerns over insecurity in North-Central Nigeria, where a spate of attacks and abductions has unsettled several communities in recent weeks.