Thirty eight worshippers who were taken away during the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have regained their freedom.
Their release was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye.
He explained that security agencies and federal authorities worked for days to secure the safe return of the captives.
“After many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives, HE AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church Eruku,” the statement said.
The governor attributed the breakthrough to the direct involvement of Tinubu.
According to the statement, “The governor says this is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, who has personally led the efforts to free the abductees. The abductees were freed today, November 23.”
It recalled that Tinubu had suspended his scheduled trip to the G20 meeting in South Africa so he could focus on the security breaches in Kwara and Kebbi states.
The President also ordered increased security deployments to Kwara to contain bandit activities around the state’s borders with Kogi and Niger.
Ajakaye added that the governor appreciated the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency and the Nigeria Police Force which deployed four new tactical units to the state.
The Secretary of CAC Oke Isegun, Michael Agbabiaka, also confirmed the release. He said the DSS called the community around 4 pm to notify them.
“Yes, they called us that the abductees have been freed,” he said. He added that the community was awaiting their arrival, noting that “our people are eager to see them alive and safe.”
The attack on the church on Tuesday threw the community into mourning after three worshippers were killed and 38 others taken away.
The abduction sparked national outrage and prompted an intensive search involving soldiers, DSS operatives, Special Tactical Squad units, SWAT personnel, anti-kidnapping teams and local vigilantes.
