File photo: Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Kwara State Government has announced the release of 38 worshippers abducted last Tuesday by bandits who attacked the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed that the victims had regained their freedom after days of security operations. The statement, however, did not specify the circumstances under which the abductees were released.
“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 (CAC) Eruku,” it read in part.
The state government credited the rescue to the “hands-on approach” of President Bola Tinubu, saying the President “personally led the efforts” that resulted in the release of the worshippers. According to the statement, the President cancelled his scheduled trip to the G20 Meeting in South Africa to respond to security breaches in Kwara and Kebbi states. He also ordered heightened security deployments to Eruku.
The governor expressed 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 for their roles in the operation. He also thanked community leaders, religious institutions, and residents for their support during the ordeal.
The attack, which occurred during a church service, saw gunmen storm the area “suddenly and heavily armed,” killing three people and abducting dozens. Eyewitnesses said the attackers operated for nearly an hour without any intervention from security operatives. The assailants had initially demanded a ransom of N3 billion, later reducing it to N760 million.
Angered by the incident, youths in Eruku staged a protest, blocking the Ilorin–Kabba highway and accusing security agencies of failing to respond promptly during the attack.
In the wake of the incident and other security concerns nationwide, President Tinubu postponed planned trips to Johannesburg and Luanda as he awaited security briefings on both the Eruku attack and the abduction of Kebbi schoolgirls. He also directed law enforcement agencies to pursue the perpetrators.
On Sunday, the church held its first service since the attack. Church Secretary, Michael Agbabiaka, said attendance was low due to lingering fear and trauma, but leaders encouraged members to gather in faith. He expressed appreciation for the government’s deployment of security personnel now patrolling the community.
In his sermon, the presiding pastor, Bamidele Lawrence, described the incident as a test of faith, assuring the congregation that God had promised the safe return of the abducted worshippers, likening their experience to the trials of the Israelites.
