38 church worshippers abducted by terrorists in Nigeria freed

Governor AbdulRahmanAbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Nigeria, has announced the release of 38 worshippers abducted during a deadly bandit attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area.

The governor, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, as reported by Ripples Nigeria described the rescue as a major relief following days of national anxiety. He attributed the breakthrough to coordinated security efforts and the direct intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

“After many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives, His Excellency is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons abducted in the attack,” the statement said.

AbdulRazaq praised President Tinubu for what he called a “hands-on approach” that fast-tracked the rescue, noting that the President suspended his planned trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to address security breaches in Kwara and Kebbi states.

He added that the President also ordered heightened security deployments across the affected areas.

The governor extended appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force, which deployed four new tactical units to the state as part of the operation.

Confirming the development, the Secretary of CAC Oke Isegun, Michael Agbabiaka, said the DSS informed the community around 4 p.m. that the abductees had been freed.

“We are waiting for them to be brought back to the community. Our people are eager to see them alive and safe,” he said.

The attack, carried out on Tuesday, left three worshippers dead and 38 others kidnapped, sparking widespread outrage and deepening fears over rising banditry along Kwara’s borders with Niger and Kogi states.

Security agencies launched an extensive manhunt involving soldiers, DSS operatives, police tactical squads, SWAT teams, anti-kidnapping units, and local vigilantes — an operation that concluded with Sunday’s rescue.

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