38 abducted Kwara church worshippers regain freedom

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has announced the release of 38 persons who were recently abducted during an attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday.

The statement highlighted the key role of federal authorities and security agencies in securing the release of the abductees.

“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,” the statement partly said.

The governor credited President Bola Tinubu, for his hands-on involvement in the rescue operation.

“The governor says 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 abductees were freed today, November 23.

“The governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for his direct initiative that made this happen,” the statement added.

It recalled that the President had postponed his scheduled trip to the G20 meeting in South Africa to personally oversee security measures in Kwara and Kebbi states.

“The President had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 Meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States.

“He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole,” it added.

AbdulRazaq further thanked federal security agencies and local forces involved in the operation.

“The governor also expresses appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser; the Department of State Services (DSS); the Nigerian Army; the Nigeria Intelligence Agency; and, of course, the Nigeria Police, which has graciously deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State on the directive of the President,” the statement read.

Finally, the governor thanked other stakeholders whose support aided the rescue efforts.

Also confirming the rescue to PUNCH Online, the Secretary of CAC Oke Isegun, Michael Agbabiaka, told our correspondent that the Department of State Services contacted the community around 4 pm to inform them that the captives had been freed.

He noted that the community was anxiously awaiting their arrival back home to be reunited with their families.

“Yes, they called us that the abductees have been freed,” Agbabiaka said.

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

PUNCH Online reports that the Kwara abduction had triggered national outrage after armed bandits invaded a church service on Tuesday, killing three worshippers and whisking away 38 others.

The incident marked one of the largest mass abductions in Kwara’s recent history and heightened concerns about growing bandit activity around the state’s borders with Kogi and Niger.

The rescue comes days after security agencies launched an intensive combing operation involving soldiers, DSS operatives, Special Tactical Squad units, SWAT personnel, anti-kidnapping operatives and local vigilantes.(Punch)