In this report by Dare Akogun and Toheeb Omotayo, survivors of a bandit attack on a church in Omugo, Kwara State on Sunday recount how gunmen invaded their service, abducted worshippers, and left behind a traumatised community now deserted by fleeing residents

What began as a quiet Sunday morning of worship in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, quickly descended into terror when armed bandits stormed an Evangelical Church of West Africa, abducting worshippers and leaving behind a traumatised population grappling with fear, grief, and uncertainty.

The attack, which occurred during the early hours of the service, has since altered the rhythm of life in the agrarian settlement, as residents continue to flee in droves, wary of another repeat assault and disillusioned by what they describe as inadequate security presence within their community.

When one of our correspondents visited Omugo on Monday, the once-bustling village wore a desolate look, with rows of locked houses, shuttered shops, and strangely quiet streets, creating the unsettling impression of a community suddenly frozen in time.

The scale of displacement was evident as two vehicles were sighted at separate intervals departing the community, heavily loaded with household essentials including beds, mats, chairs, and other personal belongings; clear signs of families abandoning their homes in search of safety elsewhere.

Further checks revealed a troubling security gap, as there was no visible presence of security operatives within the community itself, with only a few stationed at checkpoints miles away along the road leading into Omugo, leaving residents feeling exposed and unprotected.

For many survivors, the memories of the attack remain vivid and deeply unsettling.

Eighty-year-old Alice Afariogun, one of the victims who narrowly escaped abduction, recounted her ordeal with a mix of pain and disbelief, her frail body still bearing the marks of violence.

“We were inside the church very early in the morning when those bandits launched the attack on us. Everyone was running but I couldn’t due to my old age and lack of agility,” she said.

She explained that the attackers descended on the congregation without warning, creating confusion and panic as worshippers scrambled in different directions in a desperate bid to escape.

“They captured me right where I was sitting and started dragging me all over the ground. They hit my arm with the bottom of the gun and I bled seriously,” she added, her voice trembling as she recalled the brutality.

Alice said she watched helplessly as her husband was dragged away by the assailants, her cries and pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears.

“When I saw my husband being taken away, I shouted and begged them to release him, but they refused. Instead, they kept beating me,” she said.

According to her, the attackers eventually abandoned her inside the church after inflicting injuries, apparently concluding that her age and condition made her of little value to them.

“They did not take me into the bush. They left me inside the church after wounding me. They knew I had nothing to offer them,” she said, calling on the government to urgently intervene and rescue those still in captivity.

Inside the church, remnants of the attack remained visible, with dried blood stains on the floor serving as a chilling testament to the violence that disrupted what should have been a sacred gathering.

Alice further disclosed that the incident occurred shortly after worshippers arrived around 9 a.m., even before the collection of tithes and offerings, underscoring the suddenness of the assault.

“At least ten people were taken, including my husband. The pastor’s wife was also kidnapped, and we have not seen them since,” she added.

Another survivor, Felicia Afariogun, described how she narrowly escaped capture despite being physically overwhelmed during the chaos.

“I was among the women’s choir, and while trying to escape, I fell because my legs are not strong,” she said.

According to her, one of the attackers caught up with her, struck her, and seized her bag containing her Bible, phone, keys, and tithe money before leaving her on the ground.

“I thought they would take me, but the bandit only collected my bag and left me there,” she recounted, adding that her belongings were later recovered.

Beyond the physical injuries and material losses, the emotional toll on families has been devastating.

For Omolola Daramola, the attack has left a gaping void, as both her parents were among those abducted during the raid.

Struggling to contain her grief, she broke down in tears, her voice laden with desperation.

“They have taken my dad and mummy away! Somebody please come to my rescue,” she cried.

“I was not in Omugo when it happened. I received a distress call that my parents had been kidnapped,” she added, appealing to authorities for urgent assistance.

Providing further insight into the sequence of events, a church member, Afariogun Sunday Stephen, said the attack occurred between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. while the congregation was deeply engaged in worship.

“We were singing hymns when I noticed suspicious men wearing green masks and blue attire emerging from the bush and advancing towards the church,” he said.

He explained that his quick response in raising the alarm played a crucial role in saving lives.

“I started shouting ‘bandits, run!’ immediately I saw them. That gave many people the chance to escape,” he said.

Stephen noted that the structure of the church, which has multiple entry and exit points, worked in favour of the worshippers, preventing the attackers from completely sealing off the premises.

“They tried to take over the main entrance close to the road, but they were too late. People had already started escaping through other exits,” he explained.

He added that the attackers resorted to firing gunshots in an attempt to instill fear and force people to halt, but many continued running into surrounding bushes and nearby paths.

“As we were running, they were shooting at us to scare us into stopping, but it didn’t work. They went back and took those who could not run, especially the elderly,” he said.

According to him, eleven people were initially abducted, including an infant who was later abandoned, while two others managed to escape, leaving eight persons still in captivity.

“The pastor’s wife was carrying a baby on her back during the attack. They later dropped the baby and took her away,” he added.

He identified some of those still being held as the pastor’s wife, Chief David Omopariola, Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, and Mr Joshua Ajeyemi, among others.

Stephen lamented the growing trend of kidnappings in rural communities, noting that victims are often subjected to ransom demands far beyond the financial capacity of their families.

“The government needs to act fast. People are being kidnapped and asked to pay money they cannot raise even in years,” he said.

Meanwhile, discrepancies have emerged over the circumstances surrounding the release of three victims earlier reported to have been rescued by security operatives.

The Kwara State Government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, said coordinated efforts by security agencies led to the rescue of three abducted persons and helped repel the attackers.

“We commend the immediate and coordinated response of the security forces, forest guards, and local vigilantes, which led to the rescue of three of the abducted victims and helped to repel the attackers,” the statement read.

The commissioner added that the government had directed security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and secure the release of the remaining victims, while condemning the attack as cowardly and unacceptable.

“The Kwara State Government strongly condemns the cowardly targeting of a place of worship under any guise, and we reaffirm that such acts of violence have no place in our communities,” she stated.

She also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and remain vigilant, noting that ongoing forest combing operations have yielded some progress in curbing criminal activities.

However, a community member who spoke on condition of anonymity disputed the government’s account, insisting that the victims were not rescued but rather freed by the attackers themselves.

“The security personnel came, but our people escaped on their own. The attackers released those they felt were of no benefit, including a baby and two elderly women,” the source claimed.

According to the source, one of the elderly women was released in the bush after she became too weak to continue, while another was left behind at the church due to injuries sustained during the attack.

The Olomugo of Omugo land, Oba David Adeboye Odeyemi, in his reaction, called for urgent and decisive action to secure the community and prevent further attacks.

“Our vigilantes are ready to defend the community, but they lack the sophisticated weapons needed to confront these criminals,” the monarch said.

He appealed to the government to strengthen local security architecture through improved funding, provision of modern equipment, and strategic deployment of security personnel within vulnerable communities.

The monarch also confirmed that the pastor’s wife, as well as members of his extended family, remain in captivity, underscoring the personal toll of the incident on the community’s leadership.

As fear continues to grip Omugo and neighbouring settlements, residents say their greatest concern is not just the return of those abducted, but the assurance that they can live, worship, and go about their daily lives without the looming threat of violence.

For now, the silence that hangs over the deserted streets of Omugo speaks volumes; a community displaced, a people shaken, and a painful reminder of the growing insecurity confronting rural Nigeria.