Sunday, July 19, 2026

Niger: ‘God preserved me,’ says bank customer in viral Minna robbery gunfight

“I thank God as they were shooting, the bullets just scratched my body and my clothes, but I don’t know how God preserved me,” Mr Adebayo said.

• March 9, 2026
The victim and the robbery scene.
The victim and the robbery scene.

David Adebayo, the man captured in the now viral video of him disarming and engaging in a gun battle with armed robbers, has credited God for preserving him during the attack. The robbery, which the police command in Niger said occurred on Friday in Minna, was captured on CCTV. 

Mr Adebayo narrated the ordeal during a service at the headquarters of Omega Fire Ministries International in Auchi, Edo, on Sunday. 

“On Friday, I went to the bank in Minna to make a withdrawal of N9 million. Immediately, I left the bank, no more than 10 minutes later, armed robbers came to attack me and were well armed. 

“I had already started my car. I just saw two armed men, one on my right and one on my left. They came to attack me, so they went away with my money, but I was praying in tongues, and I was fasting that day. So I went directly to one of them. God gave me the grace, and I collected the ammunition from one of them, so they started firing at me,” Mr Adebayo said in his testimony at the church. 

“God gave me wisdom: I collected the gun from an armed robber, and I have never shot in my life, so I went in front of their car and shot at the driver, saying this car will not move unless I am not serving the God of my father, and unfortunately, they started the car but refused to move. 

“So, they had no other choice but to go with my car, but I told my people that I was going to see my father because the picture of my father is inside, and that car will not be missing. Immediately I reached Lokoja, my wife called me to say that they had seen the car in a nearby bush. 

“Unfortunately, they have taken away my money, but I thank God as they were shooting, the bullets just scratched my body and my clothes, but I don’t know how God preserved me,” Mr Adebayo narrated.

Meanwhile, the police spokesman in Niger, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the robbery attack. The police said the robbers’ vehicle and a rifle were recovered from the crime scene.

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