Inside the Forest Camp: Abductors Boasted of Knowing Every Route – Freed Kwara Church Victim Reveals

Inside the Forest Camp: Abductors Boasted of Knowing Every Route – Freed Kwara Church Victim Reveals.

KWARA — A member of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, who recently regained his freedom, has provided a disturbing glimpse into the forest camp where he and dozens of others were held for five days. His story suggests that the armed group operating in the region has established a firm grip on the local forests, functioning with a level of confidence that terrified the victims.

The survivor was among the 38 worshippers abducted during a church programme on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Following their release on Sunday, November 23, he shared details that point to a highly organized network of hideouts.

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According to the victim, the abductors made it clear from the start that escape was impossible. As the group was marched deeper into the bush, the criminals boasted about their familiarity with the environment.

“It was unimaginable because when we got there, we really knew that we were in a dominated area,” the survivor said. “They told us themselves that they were bandits and made us understand that no one could just slip away. With what we saw, nobody could escape. They knew all the routes surrounding the bushes within Kwara and even beyond.”

He noted that the abductors did not seem lost or hesitant. Instead, they moved through the thick vegetation with ease, monitoring every path that led in or out of their camp.

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The survivor described the forest not just as a hiding place, but as a zone under the total command of the gunmen. Guards were positioned at strategic points, and the captors openly discussed how they could track anyone attempting to move through the bushes.

“They were always alert,” he recalled. “They spoke about how they could detect anyone trying to move across the bushes. It kept us anxious every moment we were there.”

This level of coordination left the captives feeling completely cut off from the outside world, fearing that any attempt to run would be met with immediate violence.

The release of the 38 victims has brought joy to their families and the Eruku community, but the survivor’s testimony raises serious questions about the safety of the region’s forests.

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Security experts have often warned that criminal groups are using deep forests as safe havens. This latest account backs up those fears, showing that these groups are not just passing through, but have settled in and studied the terrain.

While the nightmare is over for the worshippers, their experience serves as a clear warning. It points to the urgent need for better surveillance and a more coordinated security response to reclaim these ungoverned spaces from criminal elements.