Presidential Intervention Secures Freedom for 38 Abducted Worshippers
In a dramatic security operation personally coordinated by President Bola Tinubu, all 38 worshippers kidnapped from Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State have been successfully rescued. The rescue mission, executed by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives with aerial support from the Nigeria Air Force, took place on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at approximately 3:20 PM.
The coordinated effort followed a violent attack last Wednesday when armed men wielding AK-47 rifles stormed the church during worship service. The assailants opened fire on congregants, resulting in the tragic death of two worshippers and leaving several others wounded before fleeing into nearby bushes with 38 hostages.
Tinubu's Personal Involvement in Security Operations
Security sources revealed that President Tinubu took direct charge of coordinating response strategies, receiving round-the-clock briefings and evaluating tactical options. The President's unprecedented involvement triggered comprehensive intelligence mapping and aerial surveillance operations coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to trusted insiders, Tinubu's determination was aimed at disproving claims that his administration was not doing enough to protect both Christian and non-Christian citizens across Nigeria. The presidential oversight enabled security agencies to establish precise coordinates in the forests of Oreke Okeigbo, Ifelodun Local Government Area, where the hostages were being held.
Classified Joint Operation Yields Success
The Sunday raid, approved directly by President Tinubu, involved a joint operation between DSS operatives and Nigeria Air Force personnel. Security insiders described the mission as highly classified, noting that it remains unclear whether the kidnappers fled upon sighting the approaching security forces or were neutralized during the confrontation.
The successful operation resulted in the safe recovery of all 38 victims without additional casualties. The rescued worshippers comprised 26 females and 12 males, with ages ranging from five years to 67 years old. Among those freed were four children aged six and nine, two ten-year-olds, three pre-teens, four teenagers, and adults ranging between 20 and 58 years.
This area had previously witnessed security challenges in June, when gunmen attacked a marble mining company, killing two policemen and abducting Chinese workers. Security officials have described the successful rescue as a major breakthrough in combating kidnapping in Kwara State, highlighting the significant impact of direct presidential involvement in security operations.
Prior to the rescue, families of the abducted worshippers had reported receiving ransom demands of one hundred million naira per person from the kidnappers. Church secretary Josiah Agbabiaka confirmed that the abductors had divided hostages into groups and were making separate demands to different households using phones seized from the victims during the attack.
