Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has announced the successful release of 38 persons who were kidnapped during a bandit attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.
The news of the release, which brings relief after days of national anxiety, was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday.
The statement emphasized the crucial involvement of the highest levels of federal authority in securing the victims’ freedom.
“After many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives, HE AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON) is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State,” the statement partly said.
Governor AbdulRazaq credited President Bola Tinubu for his direct and immediate engagement with the rescue operation.
“The governor says this is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, who has personally led the efforts to free the abductees. The abductees were freed today, November 23,” the statement continued, adding,“The governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for his direct initiative that made this happen.”
The Governor recalled the President’s decisive action following the attack, noting, “The President had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 Meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States. He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole.”
AbdulRazaq extended his thanks to the various security bodies that collaborated on the rescue effort. “The governor also expresses appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser; the Department of State Services (DSS); the Nigerian Army; the Nigeria Intelligence Agency; and, of course, the Nigeria Police, which has graciously deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State on the directive of the President,” the statement read, concluding with thanks to other stakeholders whose support aided the operation.
Confirming the rescue, the Secretary of CAC Oke Isegun, Michael Agbabiaka, said the Department of State Services (DSS) had contacted the community around 4 pm to share the news that the captives were free.
“Yes, they called us that the abductees have been freed,” Agbabiaka said. “We are waiting for them to be brought back to the community. Our people are eager to see them alive and safe,” he added.
The Kwara abduction had triggered national outrage after armed bandits invaded a church service on Tuesday, killing three worshippers and kidnapping 38 others. The incident marked one of the largest mass abductions in Kwara’s recent history and heightened concerns about growing bandit activity around the state’s borders with Kogi and Niger.
The rescue comes days after security agencies launched an intensive combing operation involving soldiers, DSS operatives, Special Tactical Squad units, SWAT personnel, anti-kidnapping operatives, and local vigilantes.
