In an answer to prayer, ten Seventh-day Adventist students, including a church leader, were released on April 18, 2025, after being abducted two days earlier by suspected armed herdsmen along the Benin-Okada Road in Edo State, southern Nigeria.
The students were en route from Port Harcourt to Babcock University to attend the General Youth Congress (GYC) Africa program when their bus was ambushed by gunmen on the Benin-Lagos Expressway near Ore around 5:00 p.m. on April 16.
Augustin Jika Oka, executive secretary of GYC West Africa, could remember every detail, “We were singing while on the bus. We had moments of inspiration. Then we sent them on break. Not nine minutes after we stopped, the next thing we heard was gunshots from left and right. We laid in the bus. They came asking us to carry our hand luggage.”
He continued, “We were 18 and when they discovered that some of us were weak and injured, they asked the driver to carry them to the hospital. We remained ten. The kidnappers were seven, and they asked one of them to go and take care of the cows.”
One student, Chisaokwu Amadi, sustained a gunshot injury from a stray bullet and was rushed to the hospital. Goodluck Blessing, who was sitting next to him, escaped the kidnapping. She said it could have been her.
“It happened that ten minutes before this incident, we exchanged our seats. It was a shock to me. I was sitting next to somebody that has already been shot. The blood was all over me. I was just there, feeling helpless. Everything was just like a movie.”
The injured student was taken to Ondo Teaching Hospital, where some of his companions donated blood for him to survive. He is currently receiving treatment at Babcock University Teaching Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. A police officer who sustained injuries during the rescue effort is also recovering.
Among the 18 students, ten were abducted. The captives, including David Jonathan Jr., director of Public Campus Ministry (PCM) for the Port Harcourt West Mission, were taken into the forest, forced to walk barefoot for over 40 hours, cross multiple rivers, and survive on mangoes, cocoa, and unclean water.
He said, “At a certain moment, we thought that we would faint. But God sent rain to boost our strength. He provided some water and mangoes.”
Augustin Jika, with tears in his eyes, poured out his vulnerability.
“One of the most devastating moments during our abduction was when my Bible friend Solomon was beaten and was almost killed. He looked at me and I looked at him in the eyes. He wasn’t even meant to be there. I hadn’t invited him directly to GYC, but he had seen the posts I shared online and said, 'I like your church. I want to get closer to Jesus—maybe I’ll begin with GYC.' That’s how he ended up joining us on the trip”.
According to accounts, when Solomon Chimbiko, a non-Adventist friend, nearly drowned while crossing a river, he looked at Jika and repeatedly asked, "Are we going to make it out alive?" His friend replied each time, "Yes, because I believe in God."
Chimbiko recognized God’s miracle in a transforming trip.
“In my search for truth, I decided to embark on this journey. As we were singing, I thought it would be a nice journey.” Then came the nightmare. “They embarked us in the longest leg trip I had ever had in my life. We had to throw our belongings away just to survive. An angry-looking man pointed his gun at me three times. It was traumatizing. We got to a certain camp where they blindfolded us. At that moment, nothing could help. Only God could save us. And He did it. It is a moment of reawakening for me.”
Some of them affirmed that the experience deepened their faith and trust in God’s providence. Others, still traumatized, could not say a word. While the release of the abducted members brings immense relief, the perpetrators remain at large.
According to the Communication Director of Port Harcourt West Mission, Okey Onwugbonu, “God’s people’s prayers were answered in a remarkable way. None of the victims were harmed beyond the trauma they endured. God used the efforts of the Nigerian Police, 3rd Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as Warri local hunters, and vigilantes who played a pivotal role in securing their release.”
In response to the incident, the Western Nigerian Union Conference President, Ezekiel Adeleye, and the Eastern Nigeria Union President, Bassey Udo, expressed gratitude to God and church members worldwide for their prayers, which significantly contributed to the students' release.
Ugochukwu Elem, PCM Director for the West-Central Africa Division, also gave thanks, stating, “When God is with you, you are never alone. Just keep doing God’s work.”
The GYC Africa, held from April 17 to 21, 2025, at Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria, concluded successfully. The news of the students’ release brought immense relief and celebration among the participants, marking a hopeful end to the congress, leaders say.
Church leadership is now focused on supporting the emotional and psychological recovery of the released students. However, the broader crisis of insecurity in Nigeria continues.
In a recent testimony, a pastor from Northern Nigeria revealed that in his church of just over 100 members, 44 are currently held by kidnappers.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), between May 2023 and April 2024, over 614,000 Nigerians were killed and more than 2.2 million abducted across the country. Data from HumAngle Tracker reveals that in the first quarter of 2025 alone, 1,420 people were killed and 537 kidnapped.
Despite this reality, leaders from the Adventist Church in Nigeria state they remain steadfast in prayer, mission, and community outreach, trusting in God's continued protection and guidance.
The original article was provided by the West-Central Africa Division. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.
