In a chilling account of survival, one of the worshippers abducted during the recent terrorist attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara state has revealed the brazen confidence displayed by their captors during their ordeal in the forest.
The Sudden Attack During Worship
Bamidele Emmanuel, among the 38 worshippers kidnapped during the shocking incident, described how the terrorists surrounded the church during evening service. The attack occurred around 5:30 PM, just 30 minutes into the worship program, catching the congregation completely by surprise.
"It was just a sudden and terrifying act," Emmanuel recounted. "After all the praises, we just heard gunshots. Even to my own perspective, I didn't know it was gunshots at first. I thought it was just sparkling of some wire. But by the time we realized what was happening, they had surrounded the whole church."
Emmanuel noted that some witnesses later described seeing drops of blood everywhere at the scene, indicating the violent nature of the attack that has drawn global attention to the security situation in Nigeria's northcentral region.
Forest Captivity: A Dominated Territory
The victims were taken deep into forest areas that the terrorists completely controlled, according to Emmanuel's testimony. The captors openly identified themselves as bandits and boasted about their knowledge of the terrain, making escape virtually impossible for the abducted worshippers.
"When we got there, we really knew that it was a dominated area by these people called bandits," Emmanuel revealed. "They had the courage to tell themselves that we are bandits. And they made us know that there is no one who can just slip away without being caught."
The terrorists confidently asserted that nobody could escape from their controlled territory, emphasizing their familiarity with all routes surrounding the bushes within Kwara and neighboring cities. This revelation highlights the sophisticated operational knowledge that terrorist groups have developed in Nigeria's forest regions.
Government Response and Rescue Operation
The successful rescue operation followed days of intensified security efforts coordinated at the highest levels of government. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the release of all 38 abducted worshippers through a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, November 23.
In a demonstration of his administration's commitment to security matters, President Tinubu revealed that he had closely monitored the rescue efforts and coordinated the security response after canceling his scheduled trip to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, personally received the freed worshippers at the Kwara Government House, where senior officials joined him in welcoming the victims back to safety. The governor immediately arranged for medical care at the Government House Clinic in Ilorin, where medical personnel provided emergency treatment to all rescued individuals.
Governor AbdulRazaq visited the clinic to assess their condition and interacted with some of the freed worshippers, demonstrating the government's concern for their wellbeing following the traumatic experience.
Broader Security Implications
This incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing security concerns across Nigeria. Earlier warnings from Prophet Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, had alerted security agents to potential attacks planned for several states, particularly in northern Nigeria.
The Senate has urged President Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 100,000 military personnel to confront the growing insecurity nationwide. This recommendation comes as security challenges continue to affect various regions, with recent incidents including the abduction of 12 female farmers and 51 escaped Niger students.
The Kwara church attack and subsequent rescue operation highlight both the persistent security threats facing Nigerian communities and the ongoing efforts by security forces to combat terrorism and banditry across the country.
