A woman identified only as Sarah Peter escaped from kidnappers who attacked a church in northern Nigeria on Sunday, while more than 160 others remain abducted. The 60-year-old was attending a service at a branch of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church in Kurmin Wali, a village 135km (84 miles) north of Abuja, when the attack occurred.
According to the BBC, the attackers raided the church compound and abducted worshippers. Peter sustained a head injury after being struck with a rifle, but managed to escape. "Blood was all over," she told the BBC, describing the ordeal. "They kept dragging me even when I told them I couldn't walk. Then I hid somewhere until I couldn't see them any more. I was so weak I had to crawl back to the village."
The mass abduction also targeted two other churches in Kurmin Wali. While 11 people managed to escape the kidnappers, the fate of the remaining 160+ abductees remains unknown. Authorities have not yet released details regarding potential ransom demands or ongoing rescue efforts. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by communities in northern Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly prevalent. The Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, like many religious institutions in the region, has become a target for criminal groups seeking financial gain. The attack has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for increased security measures to protect vulnerable communities.
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