A large bandage wrapped around Sarah Peter’s head was still visible days after she was struck by a gunman during a violent raid on her church in northern Nigeria.
Sarah, whose name has been changed for safety reasons, was attending a Sunday service in her village when armed attackers stormed the church compound and attempted to abduct worshippers, forcing them to march away on foot.
The 60-year-old woman said she was hit on the head with a rifle when she struggled to keep up, leaving her bleeding heavily.
“There was blood everywhere,” she recalled, gently touching the injured area. “I suffered,” she added, still shaken by the ordeal.
According to her account, the attackers continued dragging her despite her inability to walk. She eventually managed to hide until they moved away, then crawled back to the village, completely exhausted.
Sarah was among worshippers taken from her branch of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, as well as two other churches in Kurmin Wali, a village about 135 kilometres north of Abuja. While 11 people reportedly escaped, including Sarah, local Christian leaders say more than 160 individuals remain missing.
Residents have been left traumatised, fearing further attacks, as authorities have yet to release official figures for those abducted.
Kurmin Wali lies close to the Rijana forest in Kaduna State, an area widely believed to serve as a hideout for armed gangs commonly referred to as bandits, who have carried out repeated kidnappings and raids in the region.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it forms part of Nigeria’s broader security crisis, where abductions for ransom have become increasingly common. While ransom payments are illegal, they are often suspected in such cases, though no demand has been reported for this incident.
The situation has drawn international attention following previous claims by former US President Donald Trump that Christians were being targeted in large numbers. Nigerian authorities, however, have denied religious targeting, stating that people of all faiths have been affected by insecurity.
Tension and frustration remain high in Kurmin Wali, where community leaders say residents had warned authorities about worsening security. Villagers have accused officials of initially downplaying the incident and attempting to limit information.
Confusion surrounded the attack for nearly two days, with early denials by local officials before confirmation eventually came. Some residents claimed journalists were discouraged from accessing the area.
Despite access challenges, scenes inside the attacked church revealed the extent of the violence, with overturned plastic chairs, scattered prayer books, and damaged musical instruments frozen in disarray.
Another survivor, Christopher Yohanna, said he narrowly escaped with his two-year-old daughter but lost contact with his wives and other children during the chaos.
“My life feels empty without my family,” he said.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani visited the community days later, pledging to establish a military base, improve infrastructure, and provide medical and relief support. He said efforts were ongoing to work with security agencies to rescue those still in captivity.
As families continue to wait anxiously, residents say they are holding on to hope that the promises made will be fulfilled.
