How Bandits Inv∆ded Kwara Church, Brut∆lised 90-Year-Old Blind Woman, ∆bducted Pastor’s Wife, Seven Worshippers — ‘This Situation Is Beyond Our Power,’ Cleric Cr!es Out

 

How Bandits Invaded Kwara Church, Brutalised 90-Year-Old Blind Woman, Abducted Pastor’s Wife, Seven Worshippers — ‘This Situation Is Beyond Our Power,’ Cleric Cries Out

We have not heard anything from them. Since yesterday, I have not been able to get myself together. My children have just been crying. We have been pleading with them that their mother will return by God’s grace.

Ilorin, Kwara State– Armed bandits on Sunday stormed a church in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, beating a 90-year-old blind woman and abducting a pastor’s wife alongside seven other worshippers in a brazen attack that has thrown the community into fear and confusion.

Afrika Eyes gathered that the attack which occurred during a church service, marks the third time bandits have invaded the community, raising fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in the area.

The victims identified include Chief David Afolayan, Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, Mr Joshua Adeyemi Jogo, Mrs Rachel Omopariola, Mrs Mosúnmọ́lá Afolayan, Mrs Bukola Sunday, Mrs Anti (Mama Gbeke), and Mrs Remilekun Omole, the wife of the presiding pastor.

Narrating the attack, the pastor of the church, ECWA, Omogo, Mr Omole Sunday Timothy, recounted how the attackers struck in the middle of worship, forcing congregants to flee for their lives.

“My name is Omole Sunday Timothy. I’m the minister in charge of the church, ECWA. I was leading the programme when we were alerted by one of the members who saw them coming towards the church premises,” he said.

“They had already entered the premises and were approaching the church building. Immediately we were alerted, I told all the members that we should run. Everybody scattered.”

The cleric explained that he escaped through the back door, scaling a fence into the bush alongside some members, while others hid in different parts of the church building.

“I went through the back door, jumped the fence and entered the bush with some members. Some hid in other rooms and the pastor’s office. We thank God they were unable to enter those places,” he added.

However, his wife was among those abducted.

“My wife was among the 11 people that were kidnapped before they released some. A child and two elderly women were later abandoned, not rescued. Because they were old and unable to move with the way they were treated, the kidnappers felt they would delay them,” he said.

According to him, the abandoned victims were left behind after suffering physical assault.

The pastor said he immediately raised alarm in neighbouring communities after escaping.

“I ran to the next community, Oola, and called Oro-Ago that we were in need of soldiers — that kidnappers had entered Omogo. Others also made calls, especially from the CAC church. That was how soldiers were mobilised to our rescue.”

When asked if there had been any contact from the kidnappers, he said none had been established.

“We have not heard anything from them. Since yesterday, I have not been able to get myself together. My children have just been crying. We have been pleading with them that their mother will return by God’s grace.”

The distraught cleric added, “Personally, I am seriously disturbed. I have not been able to sleep or do anything. She is not even in good health for the situation she is facing now.

“Sincerely, I am pleading with the government — this situation is beyond our power. Eight members are in their custody, and the church cannot bear the consequence. Even the entire Oro-Ago community cannot handle this. The government needs to come to our rescue and assist with negotiations because we don’t know what to do.”

An eyewitness, Afariogun Sunday Steven, told Afrika Eyes how he first spotted the attackers approaching from a nearby burial ground.

“Glory be to God that I am alive today. Yesterday morning, around 10 minutes to 10am, as we were worshipping, singing and praying, I saw some people coming from the burial ground area with masks — green and blue tops,” he said.

“One of them was running, and others followed. As they got closer, I shouted, ‘Bandits are coming, run!’ That was how I ran out, and some people followed me.”

He said the attackers opened fire as people fled.

“As I ran, they were shooting, maybe thinking I would stop, but we did not stop. Some people escaped through the backyard into the bush, some ran as far as Oola.”

He added that security response was delayed despite distress calls.

“They called the police at Oro-Ago, but before they arrived, it was around 10:40am, even though the distance is just about six kilometres,” he said.

Explaining how the victims were abducted, Steven noted that the attackers targeted those unable to flee.

“Those kidnapped were mostly women who were not strong enough to run. The bandits didn’t want to leave empty-handed, so they forced them to go,” he said.

“At the entrance, they beat them with sticks used for herding cattle. Some of them were beaten repeatedly.”

One of the elderly victims, Rachel Ifabiyi, who is visually impaired, recounted her ordeal.

“I was inside the church when they came. They ordered us out and directed us to the bush. As we were going, I fell, and they beat me with a stick. My clothes and shoes fell off,” she said.

“They kept saying we should go while beating us. When we got to the middle of the road, they said I was not walking fast. I told them I could not see well. That was when they left me behind.”

A relative of one of the victims, speaking through tears, said two members of her family were abducted.

“They kidnapped my niece who takes care of Mama and her sister. Two people from our family were taken. No one has contacted us,” she said.

“We are pleading with the government to rescue them. We are helpless.”

Another elderly victim, Alice Afariogun, a stroke patient, said she was beaten with the butt of a gun.

“When they came, I could not run. As I stood up from the chair, they dragged me out and hit me on my arm with their gun,” she said.

“Everyone had run away. I didn’t see anyone. As I was shouting that they should not take Baba, they hit me again.”

The Commander of the local vigilante group, Akeem Ibrahim, lamented the lack of adequate weapons to confront the attackers.

“The pump-action guns we have cannot face these bandits. If the government empowers us with better weapons, we can defend our community,” he said.

“We need motorcycles and vehicles. Yesterday, we tried our best alongside soldiers and police, but without proper support, we could not do much.”

The traditional ruler of the community, Oba David Ajiboye Oseyemi, also called for urgent government intervention.

“We have tried our best, but we lack weapons for our local vigilantes. We are calling on the government to help us,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, the abducted victims remain in captivity, while families and residents continue to appeal for urgent government action to secure their release.