Kwara: All 38 kidnapped church members freed after rescue effort
Agency report
All 38 members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, who were abducted in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have regained their freedom following a multi-agency rescue operation.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed the development on Sunday, describing the victims’ release as the outcome of days of intense, behind-the-scenes coordination involving security agencies and government officials.
According to the Governor, President Bola Tinubu played a central role in the rescue operation, personally overseeing efforts to ensure the victims’ safe return. AbdulRazaq revealed that the President even shelved his planned trip to the G20 meeting in South Africa to devote full attention to the security situations in both Kwara and Kebbi States.
The Governor added that the Presidency ordered additional deployments to the troubled areas, a move he said strengthened the rescue mission. Four tactical police teams were recently dispatched to Kwara as part of the intervention.
AbdulRazaq extended gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force, alongside community leaders and religious groups who rallied throughout the crisis.
The abduction, which occurred during an attack on the church, had drawn widespread condemnation. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had earlier described the incident as “heartbreaking and sad,” calling on authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
With the victims now freed, attention shifts to ongoing efforts to forestall similar incidents and ensure security across vulnerable communities in the state.
