Three female worshippers abducted during the Kwara church kidnap have regained their freedom after spending 105 days in captivity, bringing a measure of relief to grieving families and the Omugo community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The women, who were rescued during a joint security operation, were found unconscious and in poor physical condition after months in the custody of their abductors.
Authorities said they were suffering from severe exhaustion, malnutrition and trauma before being taken to a medical facility for treatment.
The rescue marks the latest development in the attack on the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Omugo, where armed bandits stormed a Sunday worship service on March 22, 2026, and abducted several members of the congregation.
How the Attack Happened
The incident began when heavily armed gunmen invaded the church during a Sunday service, firing gunshots into the air and causing panic as worshippers fled for safety.
During the attack, several members of the congregation, including elderly worshippers, were assaulted. Among those injured was a 90-year-old blind woman who was reportedly beaten and left at the church premises.
Although security personnel managed to rescue some victims shortly after the attack, eight worshippers were taken into the surrounding forest by the kidnappers.
The attack generated widespread outrage because the church is located less than two kilometres from a military base, raising concerns about security in the area.
Following the abduction, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦1 billion for the release of the captives.
Unable to raise such a huge amount, families of the victims and members of the Omugo community reportedly contributed about ₦20 million. They also supplied food and other items requested by the kidnappers in the hope of securing the release of the abducted worshippers.
Despite those efforts, the captives remained in the kidnappers’ custody.
Five Victims Killed Before Security Operation
The painful reality of the Kwara church kidnap became clearer in early June when one of the abducted worshippers, Sunday Bakare, escaped from captivity and returned home.
According to Bakare, five of the kidnapped worshippers had been killed while in captivity.
The deceased were identified as David Omopariola, Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, Iyabo Aniyi, Joshua Akanbi Adeyemi, and Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, who was the wife of the church’s presiding pastor.
On July 8, 2026, security operatives successfully rescued the remaining three captives during a coordinated operation targeting criminal hideouts along the Kwara-Kogi border.
The operation involved personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local forest guards.
Among those rescued was a hearing-impaired widow. The three women were immediately taken to hospital after being found unconscious during the operation.
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Reacting to the rescue, President of the Omugo Development Union, Prince Oladimeji Thompson, described the return of the women as a moment of “mixed emotions.”
While expressing gratitude that the survivors had finally regained their freedom, he noted that the community remained deeply saddened by the deaths of the five worshippers who never made it home.
