All 38 individuals abducted during an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke Isegun in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have regained their freedom.
The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, confirmed the release on Sunday, November 23, through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
According to the statement, the successful rescue operation was made possible by the direct intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who personally coordinated security efforts to secure the captives’ release.
“After many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church Eruku,” the statement read.
Governor AbdulRazaq credited President Tinubu for taking a hands-on approach in leading the rescue efforts, noting that the president cancelled his scheduled trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to personally oversee security operations in Kwara and Kebbi states.
The president directed heightened security deployments to Kwara State, demonstrating his commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Nigerians, the statement added.
President Tinubu also confirmed the rescue in a separate statement, saying he had been closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving updates on the operations.
The governor expressed appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police, which deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State on the president’s directive.
Michael Agbabiaka, Secretary of CAC Oke Isegun, confirmed to reporters that the Department of State Services contacted the community around 4pm to inform them about the release. He said the community was eagerly awaiting the return of the captives to be reunited with their families.
Community residents were seen celebrating following reports of the release, with jubilant scenes captured on video showing women rejoicing while singing praise songs.
The abduction occurred on Tuesday, November 19, when armed bandits stormed the church during a midweek prayer service, killing two worshippers and whisking away 38 others. Reports indicated that 30 of the 38 abducted persons were women, with the youngest victim being seven years old and the oldest 64.
The incident sparked national outrage and marked one of the largest mass abductions in Kwara’s recent history, heightening concerns about growing bandit activity along the state’s borders with Kogi and Niger states.
Security agencies launched an intensive operation involving soldiers, DSS operatives, Special Tactical Squad units, SWAT personnel, anti-kidnapping operatives and local vigilantes to rescue the victims.