UPDATED: KWARA CHURCH ATTACK: Residents Of Omugo Narrates Horrific Experience

By Balogun Arisekola Azeez, Omugo, Kwara State.

A peaceful Sunday worship in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, descended into terror when armed bandits stormed an ECWA church, abducting several worshippers and leaving the community in shock.

According to survivors, the attackers struck in the early hours of the service, disrupting prayers and unleashing panic among congregants. The sudden invasion forced many to flee for safety, while others were taken away by the assailants.

When African Culture TV visited the community on Monday, Omugo wore a grim and desolate look. Houses were locked, shops abandoned, and the once bustling streets lay eerily silent; reflecting the deep sense of uncertainty that now grips residents.

Locals say the attack has not only shattered their sense of security, but also displaced families, with many fleeing to neighbouring communities to avoid a possible recurrence.

Community members are now calling on authorities to urgently strengthen security presence in the area, as fear continues to overshadow daily life in what was once a peaceful agrarian settlement.

Eighty-year-old Alice Afariogun, one of the survivors, recounted her harrowing experience from the attack, her frail voice punctuated by pain and disbelief as she spoke of the ordeal she endured.

“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.

According to her, the attackers seized her where she sat, dragging her across the floor and striking her arm with the butt of a gun, leaving her bleeding profusely as others fled for safety.

“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, recalling how she watched helplessly as her husband was taken away.

Afariogun said her pleas for her husband’s release were ignored as the attackers continued their assault, eventually leaving her behind in the church due to her frailty after inflicting injuries on her.

“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, appealing to the government for urgent intervention.

Traces of her ordeal were still visible during the visit, as stains of blood from her injured arm marked the church floor: a grim reminder of the violence that had unfolded within the sacred space.

She disclosed that the attack occurred shortly after worshippers arrived around 9 a.m., before offerings or tithes could begin, adding that at least ten people, including her husband and the pastor’s wife, were abducted and remain in captivity.

Another survivor, Felicia Afariogun, narrated how she narrowly escaped being taken, despite being knocked down during the chaos that ensued.

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

Felicia explained that although one of the attackers struck her and seized her bag containing personal belongings and money, she was left behind as the assailant fled, and she later recovered her items during the intervention that followed.

“They did not take me away. The bandit only collected my bag and left me on the ground,” she recounted.

For Omolola Daramola, the tragedy struck even deeper, as both her parents were among those abducted during the raid.

Overwhelmed by grief, she broke down in tears while speaking, crying out for help as she struggled to process the sudden loss.

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

“I was not in Omugo when it happened. I received a distress call that my parents had been kidnapped,” she added, pleading with authorities to assist in securing their release.

Providing further insight into how the attack unfolded, a church member, Afariogun Sunday Stephen, said the service was ongoing between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. when the attackers emerged from the surrounding bush.

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

According to him, he immediately raised the alarm, shouting warnings that prompted many worshippers to flee before the attackers could fully encircle the premises.

“I ran out immediately. What saved many people was that they could not surround the church quickly,” he explained.

Observations at the scene revealed that the church has multiple entry and exit points, which significantly aided the escape of several worshippers during the attack.

Stephen added that while the assailants attempted to control the main entrance, many had already escaped through alternative exits, frustrating the attackers’ plan to trap those inside.

“As we ran, they were shooting to scare us into stopping, but it didn’t work. They went back and took the elderly ones who couldn’t escape,” he said.

He disclosed that eleven individuals were initially taken, including an infant who was later abandoned, with the pastor’s wife—who had been carrying the baby—remaining among those still held captive.

The victims still in captivity, he said, include the pastor’s wife, Chief David Omopariola, Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, Mr Joshua Ajeyemi, and others, as families anxiously await their return.

He called on the government to intensify efforts to curb the rising insecurity, lamenting the financial burden often placed on families through ransom demands they cannot afford.

Meanwhile, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the rescue of some victims, with a community member disputing the state government’s claim that three individuals were rescued by security operatives.

The Kwara State Government, in an earlier statement signed by the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, said joint security efforts led to the rescue of three abducted persons while operations continue to free others.

“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 security agencies had been directed to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the safe return of the remaining victims, while condemning the attack on a place of worship as cowardly and unacceptable.

However, the anonymous community source insisted that the victims regained freedom on their own or were released by the attackers due to their perceived lack of value.

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

In his reaction, the Olomugo of Omugo land, Oba David Adeboye Odeyemi, called for increased security presence and better support for local vigilantes, stressing that they lack the sophisticated equipment needed to confront armed criminals.

“Our vigilantes are ready to defend the community, but they need better weapons and financial support to function effectively,” the monarch said.

He also confirmed that the pastor’s wife, alongside members of his extended family, remains in captivity, urging the government to act swiftly to sec

ure their safe return and restore confidence among residents now living in fear.