Three female worshippers abducted during a Sunday service at an ECWA church in Kwara State have regained their freedom after 105 days in captivity. The women were rescued by security forces in an unconscious state, suffering from trauma, malnutrition and exhaustion, and are currently receiving medical treatment. Their rescue brings an end to a months-long ordeal that began on March 22, 2026, when armed bandits attacked the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. It also revives the painful memory of the five worshippers who never returned.
How the Kwara ECWA church attack unfolded
The peaceful Sunday morning service was violently interrupted by armed bandits. The gunmen stormed the church during Sunday worship, firing shots into the air and sending worshippers fleeing. Several people, including elderly members of the congregation, were assaulted during the attack. A 90-year-old blind woman was beaten and left injured at the scene. Although security operatives rescued some victims shortly after the invasion, eight worshippers were taken into the forest. The attack sparked outrage, particularly because the church is located less than two kilometres from a military base.
Kidnappers demanded ₦1 billion ransom
The kidnappers initially demanded ₦1 billion for the victims' release. Unable to raise that amount, families and members of the Omugo community reportedly raised about ₦20 million and supplied food and other requested items in the hope of securing the captives' freedom. Despite the payment, the victims were not released.
Five abducted church worshippers were killed in captivity
In early June, one of the captives, Sunday Bakare, escaped and returned to the community with devastating news. He revealed that five of the abducted worshippers had been killed in captivity. They were identified as: David Omopariola, Joseph Ibitoye, Afariogun Iyabo, Aniyi Joshua, Akanbi Adeyemi, and Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, the wife of the church's presiding pastor.
Three kidnapped women rescued after 105 days in captivity
On July 8, 2026, the remaining three captives, all women, including a hearing-impaired widow, were rescued during a joint security operation. The operation involved the Nigeria Police Force, the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and local forest guards, who targeted criminal hideouts along the Kwara-Kogi border. President of the Omugo Development Union, Prince Oladimeji Thompson, described the women's return as a moment of "mixed emotions". While residents welcomed the survivors home, they also mourned the five worshippers who lost their lives during the ordeal.
