Thirty-eight members of the congregation who were abducted by bandits during a Thanksgiving service at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been released after five days in captivity.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced the development in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaiye.
The state government credited the release to the concerted efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and various security agencies. However, details of the rescue operation’s location and method remain unclear at the time of reporting.
The statement read: “Following several days of dedicated work by security personnel and government officials, His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON) is pleased to announce the release of 38 individuals abducted in the attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State.
“The Governor emphasised that this success is largely due to the direct involvement of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, who personally led efforts to secure the freedom of the abductees.
“The hostages were freed on November 23. The Governor expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for his hands-on leadership that made this possible.
“The President had cancelled his planned trip to the G20 Meeting in South Africa to focus on the security breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States. He also ordered increased security deployments in Kwara, highlighting his commitment to the safety of citizens.
“The Governor also thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force, which deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State under the President’s directive.
“Furthermore, the Governor extended appreciation to security forces, community leaders, religious organisations, and all residents of Kwara for their support and goodwill since the incident,” the statement concluded.
