TERROR IN THE THICKET: FREED KWARA CHURCH WORSHIPPER REVEALS HOW ‘TERRORISTS CONTROL ALL THE BUSH ROUTES’ ACROSS KWARA AND NEIGHBOURING STATES

A chilling account has emerged from one of the abducted worshippers seized during last week’s violent attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, shedding new light on the extent of bandits’ grip on forests and bush routes spanning multiple states.

The freed victim, who spoke with journalists on Sunday shortly after regaining freedom, recounted in vivid detail the harrowing moments when heavily armed men stormed the church mid-service. The evening programme had only just begun when terror struck.

“About 30 minutes into the programme, after everybody had settled, I suddenly heard gunshots,” the victim said.

“At first, I didn’t even recognise it. I thought it was just the sound of an electrical wire sparking. But within moments, they had surrounded the whole church.”

Panic swept through the worshippers as chaos erupted inside the sanctuary.

According to the victim, confusion intensified when some members noticed drops of blood on the floor, a grim signal of the unfolding violence as the attackers tightened their grip on the congregation.

The abductees were forcefully marched deep into the forest, where the victim said they made an alarming discovery: the attackers were operating from a base completely under their control.

“When we got there, we didn’t know it was a dominated area. It was unimaginable. They boldly told us they are bandits and that nobody escapes from that place without being caught.”

The kidnappers, he added, boasted openly about their mastery and control of vast bush paths stretching across Kwara and neighbouring states.

“From that place they have dominated, they know all the roads surrounding those bushes in Kwara and other states,” he said, stressing that their deep familiarity with the terrain gives them a dangerous advantage in mobility and evasion.

The account reinforces long-standing fears of expanding bandit networks that operate across state lines through forest corridors, often outpacing security formations.

Earlier, it was reported that Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed the release of the 38 abducted worshippers. Their freedom came after several days of extensive rescue operations involving multiple security agencies and government representatives.

Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, disclosed in a Sunday statement that President Bola Tinubu played a decisive role in the operation, applying what the statement described as a “hands-on approach” to the crisis.

According to the statement, “The President had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 Meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States.”

“He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole.”

“The abductees were freed today, November 23,” it added.

Governor AbdulRazaq expressed profound gratitude to the President, noting that the successful rescue “is wholly due to his direct initiative.”

He also extended appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force, which deployed four new tactical teams to the state under presidential directive.

The revelations from the freed victim now amplify growing concerns over the level of territorial control claimed by criminal groups, an alarming reality that underscores the urgent need for sustained, coordinated security action across affected states.