Villagers in northwestern Nigeria were preparing for Sunday worship when motorcycle-riding gunmen stormed their church, firing indiscriminately and abducting at least 62 people, including the pastor and several children. The attackers marched the captives into the bush and forced them to trek for two days to a forest hideout, where they were held for nearly a month. Relatives back home sold farmland, livestock, and motorcycles in desperate attempts to raise the ransom needed to secure their release.
Jocomms Correspondent reports that survivors described harrowing conditions during captivity: little food, little sleep, constant intimidation, and pressure to renounce their Christian faith. Two hostages were killed during the ordeal, deepening the trauma for those who eventually made it home. “I told my people even if they see my dead body, they should not deny Jesus and they should remain strong,” Rev. Micah Bulus of Kauna Baptist Church recounted, standing before his congregation in Ligari, Kaduna State, where grief and resilience now coexist in equal measure.
The region has seen continued violence since the November attack. Just this Monday, gunmen abducted 25 schoolgirls and killed at least one staff member at a boarding school in Kebbi State, underscoring the worsening security crisis across Nigeria’s northwest. As communities mourn and brace for the next assault, the pressing question remains—how long will innocent families be left at the mercy of armed gangs without decisive protection? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
