Pastor Dauda Yosi Kwaki of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church in Mangorata Town in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, has narrated how he slept in bush for 19 days to escape from bandits.
Speaking with Vanguard, Pastor Kwaki, recounted his ordeal after escaping massacre by the bandits along with his family of eight after the terrorists invaded his community.
He said: “Our community was invaded by the bandits on March 27 and they broke into my church and residence with the aim of killing me and my family, but God saved us. Out of annoyance, they destroyed the pulpit, chairs, drums and other musical instruments they met. They also forced the door of my house open and carted away all valuables they could lay their hands on. I was hiding by the river close to my church with others also in the bush and heard them banging on the doors of the church. I escaped into a nearby bush where I stayed for 19 days virtually with nothing to eat or drink before I finally escaped to Gurusu village where I am presently managing.”
Pastor Kwaki added that; “My wife and five of our seven children have temporarily relocated to Nasarawa State, while the two other children are now in Gurusu in Niger State. Since January, I have not been able to see my wife and the other five children, while I have not also set eyes on the two others residing in Niger state,” he said.
While noting that residents of Shiroro and Munya local government areas cannot specifically explain the cause of the frequent raid on them by the gunmen, he said: “Since we have been residing in these communities, we have never witnessed the type of raid on us like it happened few weeks ago. The bandits rode on 300 motorcycles with each carrying no fewer than two passengers and fully armed. They divided themselves into three groups with some in Kapana and Dangunu from where they carried out their dastardly act on the people.”
The clergyman called on local, state and federal governments to join hands to fight the bandits whom he said have taken over the state, especially Munya and Shiroro local government areas. On the likelihood of the villagers returning to their ancestral homes to continue with their lives, he said the people have to choose between life and death. “Except there are strong indications by government to provide the fleeing villagers adequate security, going back to the communities may not be feasible for now because the bandits are still in their locations close to the two local government areas and still ravaging the people.”
He said that in the past few months, most churches in these two Christian dominated local government areas have not been able to worship freely as most members have fled the communities after having close shave with death on several occasions.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, in an interview said the state had taken steps to review the security architecture of Munya LGA following incessant attacks on some communities there.