Thirty-eight worshippers kidnapped from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, Eruku, have been released, the Kwara State Government announced on Sunday, five days after the deadly attack that claimed three lives.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed the release of the abducted church members but did not disclose the circumstances surrounding their freedom.
According to the statement, the governor credited the rescue to the “hands-on approach” of President Bola Tinubu, saying the President “personally led the efforts” and even cancelled his scheduled trip to the G20 Meeting in South Africa to address the security breaches in both Kwara and Kebbi states.
“The governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu for his direct initiative that made this happen,” the statement read, adding that the President ordered additional security deployments to Kwara as part of the rescue effort.
AbdulRazaq also expressed appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force for their roles in securing the release of the victims.
He lauded religious leaders, community members, and security operatives for their support during the crisis.
The incident occurred last Tuesday when armed bandits stormed the CAC parish during an evening service.
The attackers shot indiscriminately, killing three people and abducting 38 worshippers.
Residents reported that many fled into the surrounding bushes to escape the gunfire.
Eyewitnesses described the invasion as sudden and overwhelming.
“They came at nightfall, heavily armed. Two people were killed instantly,” one resident said.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦3 billion, later reducing it to ₦760 million.
Following the attack, youths in Eruku blocked the Ilorin–Kabba highway in protest, accusing security personnel stationed in the community of failing to respond during the assault, which lasted nearly an hour.
Their demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions as they demanded greater protection and accountability from security agencies.
In the wake of the attack, President Tinubu also postponed his planned trips to Johannesburg and Luanda, awaiting further security briefings on both the Eruku attack and the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
He directed security agencies to pursue the perpetrators.
