Following the release of 38 kidnapped church members in Kwara State, a Nigerian pastor has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu demanding crucial details about the circumstances surrounding their freedom.
The Eruku Church Kidnapping Incident
Thirty-eight members of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Kwara State were abducted by suspected bandits during a church service on Tuesday, November 18. The worshippers spent five terrifying days in captivity before regaining their freedom on Sunday, November 24.
President Tinubu announced the successful release of the victims through his official X (formerly Twitter) page, bringing relief to families and the community. However, the announcement lacked specific details about how the release was secured, sparking concerns and questions from concerned citizens.
Pastor's Critical Questions to the President
Apostle Michael Olowookere, using his X handle @myk_da_preacher, addressed the President directly with pointed questions about the terms of the worshippers' release. The cleric began by thanking Tinubu for facilitating the victims' return but quickly moved to demand transparency.
The pastor posed several crucial questions:
"What was the term of the release of the Kwara abductees? Did you pay ransom? Was it by military action? If it was by military action, were the terrorists neutralised? Or were they arrested? How many were they?"
Olowookere expressed frustration with the vague nature of the government's announcement, emphasizing that "You can't just tell us 'they are released'. How were they released??? These details are important to Nigerians."
Public Reaction and Related Incidents
The pastor's open letter has generated significant reactions on social media platforms. User @Iyefaa_Special supported the cleric's position, suggesting that "Bandits are an instrument of government" and accusing authorities of pampering criminals.
However, not all responses were supportive. User @gabriel_bolatit questioned the pastor's focus, asking "how church members can ask same critical questions about church finances and other logistics without reprimand."
In a related development, a member of Dunamis Church came forward with a testimony about her family's experience during the same incident. She revealed that her sister and nephew were among those abducted and subsequently released after five days in captivity.
The Eruku community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the traumatic event, while questions about security and government transparency remain largely unanswered.
