Sarah Peter, a survivor of a church raid in northern Nigeria, described her harrowing experience during an abduction attempt that saw over 160 worshippers taken hostage. The 60-year-old woman was violently struck on the head with a gun by the attackers as they attempted to force her and others away from the church in Kurmin Wali.
“Blood was all over,” she recounted, visibly shaken as she recounted the details of her escape three days later. While her wounds were treated, the emotional scars remained. I suffered, she added, detailing how she had to hide from her captors and crawl back to safety.
The violence occurred while congregants were attending services at the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church and other locations nearby. Despite some managing to escape, the local Christian Association reported that about 160 individuals are still missing.
Kurmin Wali is situated near the Rijana forest, a known hub for criminal gangs in Nigeria who frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom. Although there has been no claim of responsibility for the latest incident, it is part of a troubling trend in Nigeria where abductions are alarmingly common.
No ransom demands were made public following this attack, and it remains unclear how authorities are handling the ongoing crisis. Local leaders lamented a lack of support from officials, with many urging for increased security measures to prevent future occurrences.
Governor Uba Sani visited Kurmin Wali to address villagers' concerns, pledging to establish a military base and improve community protection. Yet, residents remain skeptical, fearful of further violence and frustrated by the initial denial from authorities regarding the attack.
Amidst the tension in the village, stories of other families affected by the raid echo the sentiments of loss and desperation felt across Kurmin Wali as they await news of their loved ones.
