Thirty-eight members of a congregation abducted during a Thanksgiving service at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State, have regained their freedom after five days in captivity.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced the development on Sunday through his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaiye. The state government attributed the successful release of the victims to the direct intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and coordinated efforts by security agencies, though details of how and where the congregation was rescued remain unclear.
The statement from the governor reads: “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. 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 governor expressed immense gratitude to President Tinubu, noting that the President had called off his scheduled trip to the G20 meeting in South Africa to address security breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States. Tinubu also directed heightened security deployments, underlining his commitment to the safety and well-being of Nigerians.
Governor AbdulRazaq also extended appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police, which deployed four new tactical teams to the state on the President’s directive. The governor further thanked religious institutions, thought leaders, and all Kwarans for their continued support since the incident.
What you should know
The abduction of the CAC congregation highlights ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, but the coordinated federal and state efforts, led directly by President Tinubu, successfully secured the release of all 38 victims after five days in captivity.
