A forty nine year old woman who survived the deadly attack on a church in Eruku has narrated how she narrowly escaped being kidnapped by armed bandits on the night of the incident. Her account has shed new light on the level of terror experienced by worshippers during the assault that left the community shaken and in mourning.
According to her testimony, the bandits stormed the area late in the evening, shooting sporadically and targeting those attempting to flee. She explained that she had been inside the church compound when the gunmen surrounded the premises and ordered people into the bush.
The woman revealed that she managed to escape by quickly hiding behind a collapsed section of a wall before crawling into a nearby farmland. She said she remained motionless for a long period, listening to the voices of the attackers as they searched for victims. She later made her way through thick vegetation until she reached a neighbouring settlement where residents sheltered her.
Her emotional account has intensified calls for increased security presence in the affected communities. Residents of Eruku stated that the attack demonstrated a worrying escalation in the boldness of criminal groups operating in the region.
Local leaders described the incident as one of the most traumatising events the community had faced in recent years. They urged both state and federal authorities to respond with stronger security strategies that would prevent similar tragedies. Families of victims are still counting losses, while community members continue to assist survivors with support and counselling.
Security agencies have promised that efforts are underway to track down the attackers. Investigators are said to be analysing the testimonies of survivors in order to determine the motive and identify those responsible. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups have arrived in the community to support displaced residents and affected families.
