The Federal Government has explained why full details of the recent rescue of 38 abducted members of the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, are not being disclosed.
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy, said on Tuesday that such operations involve intricate planning and coordination among multiple security units, including local intelligence, which cannot be made public.
“The process of securing or freeing victims of kidnappings is often a complicated one involving several steps and multiple security personnel, even local intelligence. The ultimate goal is to free the captives and apprehend the terrorists. The full details of such operations are never disclosed in full. It’s a security matter,” Dare wrote on his X account.
He commended security agencies for recent successes in Niger and Kwara states, assuring that those responsible for the attacks will face justice. “We salute recent efforts by our security team in the Niger and Kwara incidents and know that perpetrators and the kidnappers will soon be arraigned to face the law of the land,” he added.
The comments followed confirmation from Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq that all 38 church members had been safely released. In a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor credited President Bola Tinubu’s direct involvement for the successful operation, noting that the President delayed his G20 summit trip to oversee security efforts in Kwara and Kebbi states.
“The governor says this is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, who personally led the efforts to free the abductees. The abductees were freed today, November 23. The governor is immensely grateful to President Tinubu for his direct initiative that made this happen,” the statement said.
Dare emphasized that while the public deserves reassurance about the safety of victims, maintaining operational secrecy is essential to safeguard strategies used in rescue missions and protect future operations.
