Kwara: ‘It is painful I cannot recover my wife’s corpse’ — ECWA pastor

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

Rev. Sunday Omole, pastor of the ECWA Church in Omugo, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara, expressed deep sorrow after learning that he could not recover the remains of his wife, Mrs. Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, and other church members who were held captive by terrorists.

The deceased worshippers include Elder Chief David Omopariola, Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, Mrs. Iyabo Aniyi, and Elder Joshua.

In an interview with Vanguard on Thursday morning, Rev. Omole recounted that Mr. Sunday Bakare, another worshipper who escaped from the terrorists, could not identify the exact location where the bodies were kept. He said that the five church members died at different times while in captivity.

According to Rev. Omole, “The guy said he wandered in the forests for ten days immediately after he escaped from the terrorists.” He added that Bakare eventually found a village that led him back to Omugo. “He said he can no longer identify the spot, so there’s no means by which we can retrieve the corpses for burial after payment of N20 million ransom and other items worth over N300,000. This is deeply saddening as I speak with you, because the corpses would just be there and rot away. But Almighty God knows why.”

Rev. Omole also noted that reports from the escapee indicated the health conditions of the remaining three worshippers had seriously deteriorated. “The guy who brought the news said by the time he escaped, the health conditions of the remaining three had seriously deteriorated,” he said.

He said the church is attempting to rescue the remaining three worshippers, although he did not detail the specific actions being taken. He urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene in the rescue efforts. “My boss told me that the governor has called him this morning to commiserate with the church, but I’m urging him to please intervene and rescue the remaining three worshippers; he can do it,” he said.

Rev. Omole expressed confidence that rising cases of terrorism could be halted in Nigeria, adding that “all of us know that it can be stopped, but the government is not just willing to stop it.”

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