A survivor of the recent mass abduction of worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area has narrated a harrowing escape after armed men stormed churches during a service, forcing congregants into the bush and subjecting them to violence.
The testimony emerged on Wednesday after the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State visited the scene of the attack and spoke with survivors. Human rights lawyer and former National Human Rights Commission chairman, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, shared the survivor’s account on social media, identifying the victim as one of those who managed to flee captivity.
“We were in the church when we heard noise from outside,” the survivor recounted. “I stepped out of the church, and I saw four armed men standing outside. I picked up my little daughter and wanted to run, but one of the men said that if I run he would shoot me. So I stopped.”
According to the survivor, the attackers ordered worshippers out of multiple churches in the area and marched them together into the forest.
“They removed the other people from the church. When we got to the other church, we noticed they had also removed all the members,” the survivor said. “Together, they asked all of us to go with them. We began to journey into the bush.”
The ordeal worsened as the abductees were beaten repeatedly along the way.
“We got to a village and they started beating us without any question,” the survivor said. “After beating us, they asked us to continue the journey into the bush.”
The survivor said an unexpected opportunity to escape came when the abductors stopped at another settlement deep in the forest.
“When we got to another village in the bush, we saw a lot of people there, some of them not members of our community,” the survivor recalled. “That was where I escaped because of the crowd. I escaped through the bushes until I got back to our community.”
The survivor’s escape, achieved while still clutching fear for the child earlier threatened by the gunmen, has become a rare glimmer of hope amid uncertainty over the fate of those still held.
As news of the testimony spread, Nigerians took to social media to express outrage and frustration, particularly over earlier official denials of the abduction.
“The initial sceptics are so foolish,” wrote Manasseh Allen. “Why would people lie about abductions? These are real lives.”
Another user, Jeremiah (@JerrySpitfire), said, “These are real-life stories from actual victims, not fiction. Until you speak with victims and hear their stories, you will keep treating insecurity like propaganda.”
Others questioned the security response and preparedness of law enforcement. Highpriest (@ejyvik) asked, “Many of the policemen are not in bulletproof vests. Is it a shortage or negligence, especially in volatile areas?”
Several commenters also criticised what they described as delayed action by authorities. “Of what use is medicine after death?” asked Matto (@mattolomu). “High-risk places like churches should be under constant surveillance.”
While emotions ran high online, ranging from calls for community-based vigilance to broader political accusations, rights advocates urged authorities to focus on rescuing those still missing and ensuring accountability.
The Kaduna State Police Command has not yet released detailed figures on the number of people still in captivity. However, the survivor’s account, delivered in trembling detail, has intensified public pressure on security agencies to move swiftly.
