A pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Rev. Sunday Omole, has expressed deep anguish over his inability to recover the body of his late wife, Mrs.
Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, following a deadly terrorist attack on church members.
Speaking in an emotional account, the cleric revealed that despite the payment of a ₦20 million ransom and additional items valued at over ₦300,000, the remains of his wife and four other worshippers who died in captivity have not been recovered for burial.
The deceased worshippers were identified as Elder Chief David Omopariola, Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, Mrs. Iyabo Aniyi, and Elder Joshua.
According to Rev. Omole, a survivor of the abduction, Mr. Sunday Bakare, who managed to escape, wandered in the forest for ten days before finding his way back to the community.
However, the escapee could not identify the exact location where the victims were held, making it impossible to retrieve the corpses.
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“It is deeply painful that we cannot even give them a proper burial. Their bodies are left in the forest to decay, and there is nothing we can do,” the pastor lamented.
He further disclosed that the escapee reported that the victims died at different times during their captivity, while the health conditions of three other abducted worshippers had significantly deteriorated before his escape.
Rev. Omole appealed to the Kwara State Government to urgently intervene and facilitate the rescue of the remaining captives.
“I believe the governor can do something. We are pleading for swift action to save the lives of those still in captivity,” he said.
While expressing hope that insecurity can be tackled, the clergyman criticized what he described as a lack of sufficient commitment to ending terrorism in the country.
The tragic incident adds to growing concerns over rising insecurity and the increasing vulnerability of religious communities in parts of Nigeria.
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