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Pastor Chris Okafor, the founder of Grace Nation International, has opened up about the terrifying 2012 abduction he endured alongside his personal assistant, describing the ordeal as a near-death experience he survived through divine intervention.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Okafor detailed that the kidnapping followed a series of evangelistic crusades across Nigeria, specifically after a service in Awka, Anambra State.
“After days of intense travel and ministry engagements, we planned to leave Awka for Benin City, spend the night in prayer, and then proceed to Lagos in time for Sunday service,” he said.
He recounted the harrowing moment: “I had been asleep due to exhaustion when gunshots suddenly rang out, throwing the vehicle into confusion.” Despite his urgent calls for the driver to keep moving, the car eventually lost control and flipped into a ditch amid heavy gunfire.
Okafor shared that he felt an added fear, noting a chilling coincidence: he was approaching the same age at which his two older brothers had died. Armed men captured him and his assistant, blindfolded them, and transported them to an undisclosed location, leaving the driver and a policeman behind.During captivity, ransom demands were met, but their release was repeatedly postponed.
“We were held with several other captives under harsh conditions and were constantly restrained,” Okafor said.
He described being moved in the trunk of a vehicle while his abductors attacked police stations, seized weapons, and caused casualties. Some captors reportedly experienced unexplainable events, which ultimately led them to free him.
After 58 days, Okafor was released and returned to his village in Anambra State, where rumors of his death had spread. “My mother reportedly fainted on seeing me,” he recalled.
Severely weakened, he was immediately hospitalized, while his personal assistant remained in captivity for a few additional days until a further ransom was paid.
Okafor noted the incident severely disrupted his church, scattering the congregation and making the rebuilding process challenging. He attributed the revival of the ministry to unwavering faith and determination.
Reflecting on his experience, he stated, “This ministry and the church we see today are testimonies of grace. I came face to face with death, but God preserved my life.”
He added that surviving the abduction marked a pivotal moment in both his personal life and his family history, breaking a longstanding pattern of untimely deaths.
Pastor Chris Okafor’s harrowing survival of a 58-day abduction stands as a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and divine protection. Yet, his remarkable past now contrasts sharply with ongoing controversies that have put his character and leadership under intense public scrutiny.
The journey from near-death to national prominence highlights both the extraordinary resilience that shaped his ministry and the complex challenges he continues to face in maintaining public trust.
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