Security Forces Secure Release of Abducted Worshippers
In a significant development for Kwara State, all 38 individuals who were kidnapped during a brutal attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke-Isegun in Eruku community have now regained their freedom. The Kwara State government officially confirmed this positive outcome on Sunday through a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye.
The statement highlighted that the successful release was the result of many days of intense effort by the nation's security apparatus and government representatives working in concert.
Presidential Intervention and Security Deployment
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq attributed the successful resolution directly to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu. The president was credited with personally leading the efforts to secure the freedom of the captives. In a notable demonstration of commitment, President Tinubu had cancelled his scheduled trip to the G20 Meeting in South Africa to address the security 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," Ajakaye added, conveying the governor's message.
The governor extended his gratitude to several security agencies for their roles in the operation. These included:
- The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA)
- The Department of State Services (DSS)
- The Nigerian Army
- The Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA)
- The Nigeria Police, which deployed four new tactical teams on the President's directive.
Church Holds Emotional Service Amid Heavy Security
Meanwhile, the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke-Isegun in Eruku, located in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, held its first service since the tragic attack last Tuesday. The assailants had killed three worshippers, kidnapped 38, and wounded several others.
The Sunday service was conducted under a heavy security presence, with journalists observing a major deployment of security operatives throughout Eruku. This joint security operation, comprising soldiers, the Special Tactical Squad from Force Headquarters, SWAT, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Kwara Police Command, and local vigilantes, was initiated on the direct orders of President Tinubu to track the attackers and rescue the victims.
The emotionally charged service took place inside the blood-stained auditorium where the attack occurred. The gathering was dominated by prayers for the release of the kidnapped members and for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
During the service, the church secretary, Michael Agbabiaka, provided crucial clarifications. He confirmed that the number of abducted persons was 38, not 60 as had been rumored on social media. He explained that the church initially compiled a list of 35 names, but a later verification exercise identified three additional non-members who were also taken during the siege.
Agbabiaka also disclosed critical details about the ransom negotiations, revealing that the bandits had reduced their demand from N100 million per person to N20 million before communications broke off on Friday.
Despite the palpable fear and trauma, church leaders had encouraged members to attend the service as a demonstration of faith and resilience. "As you can see, only a few people are present, but we thank God for life and for strengthening us. We also appreciate the government for deploying security operatives who are now patrolling the town and the church," Agbabiaka told newsmen.
The officiating pastor, Bamidele Lawrence, described the harrowing incident as a test of faith, sharing that he had received divine assurances about the safety of the kidnapped worshippers, likening their ordeal to the biblical trials of the Israelites.
