Thirty-eight worshippers kidnapped from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been released.
Their freedom came on Sunday, November 23, after days of coordinated work by security agencies and government officials. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed the development in a statement issued the same day.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq credited the successful rescue to President Bola Tinubu’s direct intervention. According to him, the President halted a planned trip to the G20 meeting in South Africa to address the security breaches in both Kwara and Kebbi States and also ordered increased security deployment to the affected communities.
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The governor expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force (whose tactical units were freshly deployed) and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency for their roles in securing the victims’ release. He also thanked religious leaders and residents for their support throughout the ordeal.
The community has been on edge since the November 18 attack, when armed men stormed the church during an evening service, killing several worshippers, including the pastor, and abducting dozens.
A service held on Sunday drew emotional reactions, with the preacher assuring congregants that God would judge the attackers. Security operatives mounted visible patrols outside the church to prevent further incidents.
The release of the abducted worshippers has brought a measure of relief to the grieving community still reeling from the deadly assault.
Below is a video of one of the 38 rescued CAC members narrating how the bandits abducted them and describing the conditions they faced while held in the bush. He explained that the entire area was under the control of the armed group, adding that bandits were stationed along the routes surrounding the forest where they were kept
