• Orbunde, ex-Gov. Ortom’s CoS, narrates family’s ordeal in hands of gunmen
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Orbunde in the hospital
Hon Terwase Orbunde, former Chief of Staff to the ex- governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has ascribed his release from gunmen to divine intervention.
Orbunde, who is very thankful to God, said it would have been a different story but God stopped him from bleeding to death before he got medical attention.
Mr &Mrs Terwase Orbunde
Orbunde was attacked in the evening of April 12, along Mobile Barracks -Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the capital of the state, while he was out to inspect work on his farm.
He was shot on the arm and left in the pool of his blood while his wife and cook were abducted and held captive for four days. They were only released by their abductors after ransom was paid.
•Wife and cook after they were released
In a statement of thanksgiving he signed and made available to our correspondent in Makurdi, the former Chief of Staff to Ortom stressed that the circumstances in which they found themselves dictated that only God could have saved their lives.
He said only divine intervention could deflect the bullet he took on his arm to hit where it could not claim his life and that only God stopped him from bleeding to death before medical intervention.
Orbunde stated that only God could have protected his wife, Abigail, and cook, Patience, while they traversed long distances in the bush on foot in the dead of the night, on motorcycles, as well as canoes along deep water ways and in forests which abound with deadly predators.
He said while they reckoned with the security agencies and their efforts to assist, they noted that they had challenges and pledged to continue to cooperate with them.
He insisted that God alone could have raised destiny helpers who stood with them spiritually, morally and financially to be able to go through negotiations with those he described as men of evil without any hitch and to secure the release of the captives.
Orbunde noted that in several cases ransom payment could not secure the release of victims and that in his case the prayers, which ascended to heaven on their behalf made the Almighty to show Himself merciful and mighty.
He said he was exploring ways of adequately acknowledging the support that arose for them from many quarters and in diverse ways.
He commended the media community for the numerous and sustained reports which he said raised global concerns and support for them but craved understanding to take a break to seek further medical attention.
He said that their experience has inspired them more to subscribe to the fight against crime, noting that God spared their lives to fulfill His good purpose on earth.
He expressed appreciation to all the health workers in places where they have received care.
Orbunde, in the statement, noted: “Events of the last one week have put my family and I on the spot as never before. We, our friends, and indeed our long-standing relationships, spiritual and temporal, were stretched to the breaking-point. In all these, God brought us out victorious.
“God has come out mightily on our behalf, from the attack to the rescue, He proved His omnipotence.
“One bullet is enough to take someone out. Only divine intervention in my case could deflect it to hit where it could not take me out. Even then, the blood it drained could be fatal.
“Only the Almighty, who is omnipotent, spared my life and those of my dear wife, Abigail, and our dependable house help, Patience. About this, we are very sure.
“While I was in hospital, He held Abigail and Patience in the hollow of His mighty hands as they traversed long distances in the bushes on foot, sometimes in the dead of the night, without basic food and water.
“He alone could have preserved them on long bush paths and on canoes along deep water ways and in forests which abound with deadly serpents and other predators.
“Only God could have raised destiny helpers who stood with us as enduring bulwarks spiritually, morally and financially to be able to navigate through the labyrinth we passed through. The negotiations with men of evil required care and wisdom, which only God could have perfected.
“We noted in several cases that ransom payment did not secure the release of victims. The payment process itself could go wrong at anytime. That all that it took to secure the release went well could only be attributed to divine intervention.
“The prayers that ascended to heaven on our behalf were a mighty incense before the Almighty who showed Himself mighty. The outpouring of love, concern and support was also overwhelming.
“Support arose for us from many quarters and in diverse ways. Near and distant phone calls, physical personal visits in the hospital, prayers with us and for us. There were sacrificial contributions when the attackers demanded a ransom. Time and space will fail us to make adequate acknowledgements here hence we are exploring other avenues of appreciation.
“The press and media community stood for us in an unimaginable manner. Reports about us traveled round the globe and raised concerns and support for us in a massive fashion. We appreciate all this but crave the understanding of gentlemen of the press to allow us to take a break, at the moment, to seek further medical attention, including trauma healing.
“For all these, we remain eternally grateful and pray that the Rewarder who sees in secret but rewards openly, will rise to answer His name for all who stood with us.
“We also reckon with the security agencies and their efforts to assist but note their handicaps and challenges. We pledge to make ourselves available in ways that could ease their work.
“We condemn, abhor and commit ourselves to fighting this monster that has risen against every patriotic Nigerians and the very fabric of our nation. Our harrowing experience has inspired us more to subscribe to this fight.
“We believe that God has spared our lives to fulfill his good purpose on earth, which includes standing up against terror, crime and wickedness. Let me put on record that God has consistently delivered us from accidents and other challenges, including COVID-19. He sure has a purpose for all these.
“We say a big thank you to all who stood by us but ascribe all the glory of our deliverance to God Almighty.”