‘Some Of My Church Members Fell To Bullets’ – Pastor Narrates Kwara Attack

Pastor Adesoji Dada Aderemi of Divine Evangelical Mission Church, Woro community in Kwara State, has narrated how terrorists attacked his church during an evening Bible study, killing worshippers and forcing residents to flee into nearby forests.

Naija News reports that Aderemi said the February 3, 2026, attack turned the quiet community into what he described as “a horror film scene.”

Speaking nearly four months after the incident, the cleric said the attack left corpses across the village and displaced many residents who were still afraid to return home.

The pastor said the attackers arrived between 6:30 pm and 7 pm, shortly after the church began its weekly Bible study.

Aderemi said, “The 3rd of February, 2026, would remain torturous to me for a long time because we had just begun our weekly Bible studies when the terrorists arrived between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

“The next thing was that gunshots rent the air. What followed was chaos as I watched in confusion to see some members of my congregation fall to the bullets, then blood flowing everywhere.”

He said worshippers escaped through windows as panic spread across the church.

Aderemi further stated, “Those of us who escaped through the windows could not fathom what was going on. It was a typical horror film scene.”

‘I Slept On A Tree-Top’

Aderemi said residents ran into the bush without direction as gunfire continued for hours.

He said, “As we ran haywire without any sense of direction, I occasionally turned back to see if they were chasing us as gunshots persisted.

“In the process, I saw flames rising from our church.

“That night, like many others from Woro, I slept on a tree-top. Surprisingly, the firing continued until around 3:30 am.”

The pastor said the extent of the attack became clearer the following morning.

The cleric further stated, “By daybreak proper, dead bodies were all over our village. In my church alone, there were nine corpses.”

He said many displaced residents had refused to return to the community because they feared another attack.

Aderemi stated, “Ever since, it has been difficult to return and rebuild the church because it always feels like they could return at any moment.  The security situation is still fragile.”

Aderemi said the attack destroyed not only buildings but also the peaceful life of the Christian community in Woro.

He said, “My focus now is to find life elsewhere because the trauma is too heavy. Especially considering that I recently buried my wife before the attack.”

He added that the congregation had been worshipping peacefully before the gunmen invaded.

According to Aderemi, “One moment, I was preaching the word of God and people were saying ‘Amen’; the next moment we heard gunshots everywhere.

“At first, we thought maybe it was far away, but within seconds people started screaming that terrorists had entered the community.”

The cleric said the attack threw children, women and elderly residents into confusion.

He said, “The whole place suddenly turned into confusion and darkness.

“Children were crying uncontrollably, women were falling while running, people abandoned their shoes, Bibles and belongings just to stay alive.

“I saw members of my church running into the forest in different directions. Some could not even find their children in the chaos.

“It was like the end of the world.”

North-Central Insecurity Worsens

The Woro attack has renewed concerns over worsening insecurity across the North-Central region, especially along the Kwara-Niger-Kogi axis.

Residents and security experts have repeatedly warned that forest corridors linking parts of Kwara to Niger and Kogi states have become hideouts for armed groups and criminal gangs.

Several communities in the region have reported attacks, kidnappings, killings and mass displacement in recent months.

Aderemi said the trauma of the attack remained fresh for survivors.

The cleric added, “Everything was going well before that night.

“Our church was growing; the community was peaceful, and people were happy. Now everywhere is empty, people are scattered and fear has taken over our lives.

“I buried my wife thinking that was the greatest sorrow I would ever face.

“I never imagined that shortly after, I would lose my church, my home and almost my entire community to terrorists.”

For survivors, he said, every sound now triggers fear.

Aderemi said, “We can no longer sleep peacefully.

“Every unfamiliar sound now takes us back to that night.”