Former federal lawmaker Ms. Joan Onyemaechi, who represented Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has recounted her harrowing 10-day ordeal in the hands of kidnappers. Speaking at a church service at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) in Asaba, Delta State, Ms. Onyemaechi shared her experience with the congregation, highlighting her faith and survival.
Onyemaechi was abducted on July 30 from the premises of her church, located off the DBS Road in Asaba. The incident resulted in the death of her driver, Isaac, and a police inspector, who was providing security. The inspector, a family man with two wives from Sokoto, was tragically killed during the violent abduction, leaving behind a grieving family.
Addressing the worshippers in an emotional tone, Onyemaechi expressed her gratitude to God for her survival. “Please, take each day of your life as if it could be the last day," she said. "I am one of those who used to say ‘God forbid’ when I heard that phrase, but after this experience, I have come to realize that it is a reality we must live by.”
She described the uncertainty she faced during her captivity, recounting how the kidnappers, who did not know her, took her away in a boat to an unknown destination. “When I was in the boat going to where I did not know, God said, ‘I am with you.’ I went through that journey for 10 days, and throughout, I prayed to God,” Onyemaechi narrated. "I am here with you because God said, ‘I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.’ It pleased Him to show me mercy, and for that, I am grateful.”
Reflecting on her experience, Onyemaechi urged the congregation to be mindful of their words and actions, cautioning them against making assumptions or spreading falsehoods. "The people who came for me did not know me, and I didn’t know them. Who went to tell them about me?" she questioned. "We should be careful with what we say and our assumptions. Indeed, God answered His name.”
Ms. Onyemaechi’s testimony serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable dangers that still plague parts of the country, while her story of faith and endurance provides hope and encouragement to many facing their own trials.
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