For decades, prayer mountains drew thousands of worshippers seeking healing, miracles, deliverance, divine encounters and spiritual renewal in serene, secluded environments. Today, however, many of these once-crowded spiritual retreats are being abandoned as kidnappings, bandit attacks, and rising insecurity across the country make worshippers increasingly wary of visiting locations that were once sacred sanctuaries, DANIEL AYANTOYE writes
Fourteen-year-old Kola Aina left home excited about church. The junior secondary school student had spent days looking forward to his church’s children’s anniversary celebration.
On Saturday, May 24, 2026, he was expected to join dozens of other children and worshippers at the Ori-Oke Ajaiye Prayer Ground in Ikerin-Opin, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, for an overnight vigil ahead of the event.
His guardian, Bukola Daramola, was too tired to accompany him.
The 63-year-old trader pleaded with him to stay home that night.
