The founder of Word Assembly Ministries, Ilorin, Kwara State, Rev. Isaac Omolehin, has disclosed that a threat by bandits to attack his church camp forced him, his family and more than 100 residents to flee the facility.
Omolehin said the security threat had left the camp deserted for months, with a primary school, secondary school, hospital, old people’s home and rehabilitation centre at the facility unable to function normally.
The cleric made the disclosure in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Grace Edema, in which he appealed to the Federal and Kwara State governments to strengthen security around the camp and make it possible for the displaced residents to return.
According to Omolehin, the crisis began when police officers arrived at the camp in Idofian village, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, around midnight between May 30 and 31. He said the officers informed residents of an impending attack by kidnappers and directed everyone to evacuate immediately.
The warning resulted in the hurried evacuation of more than 100 people living at the facility. Omolehin said he was away when the evacuation took place but later learnt that the suspected bandits eventually arrived at the camp and found that the facility had been emptied.
The cleric said he has since been unable to return to his home and has been moving between different locations with his wife and children because of fears for their safety.
He described the situation as a major disruption to his family and ministry, saying he has been unable to access his home and vehicle.
Beyond his personal circumstances, Omolehin said the security threat had affected numerous vulnerable people who depended on the camp’s facilities.
The centre, according to him, accommodates orphaned children and operates educational and healthcare facilities. It also provides accommodation and support for elderly people as well as women with mental health challenges who were rescued from the streets, alongside their children.
Omolehin said the evacuation had prevented the school from reopening and disrupted hospital services, while patients, nurses and other residents were forced to leave the facility.
He said more than 100 residents were now scattered in different locations because they had not received official confirmation that the area was safe for them to return.
The cleric also said the authorities had been informed about the situation. He stated that the management of the camp contacted the police, which had initially ordered the evacuation, to determine whether residents could safely return.
According to him, no response had been received despite the reopening of schools and the presence of more than 100 children who needed to resume their education.
He added that reports had also been submitted to the Department of State Services and the Kwara State Ministry of Social Welfare, which supervises orphanages and rehabilitation centres.
Omolehin further disclosed that his village in Kogi State was attacked several days after the incident in Kwara. He alleged that people in the village were killed after the attackers failed to find him at the Kwara camp.
The cleric said the buildings at the camp were not destroyed during the alleged attack, but thieves later broke into the deserted facility and removed property belonging to the residents.
He distinguished the alleged looters from the suspected kidnappers, saying the latter were interested in abducting people rather than stealing household items.
The prolonged displacement has also raised concerns about the welfare of the children and other vulnerable residents who depend on the camp’s services.
Omolehin therefore appealed to both the Federal Government and Kwara State Government to provide adequate security around the facility and give residents confidence that they can safely return.
The incident comes amid continuing concerns over kidnapping and banditry in parts of Nigeria, with affected communities and institutions repeatedly seeking stronger security measures to protect residents and prevent disruption to schools, healthcare services and other essential activities.
For Omolehin and the residents of the camp, the immediate concern remains the restoration of security and the possibility of returning to a facility that has remained largely deserted since the evacuation.
