President Bola Tinubu has announced the rescue of all 38 worshippers who were abducted earlier this week during a church service in Eruku, Kwara State.
The President also confirmed that 51 students abducted from a Catholic School in Niger State have been recovered, marking a significant breakthrough in the nation’s ongoing battle against insecurity.
In a statement released on Sunday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Tinubu attributed the success to the intensified efforts of security forces over the last few days.
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He reiterated his commitment to national security, explaining that this priority was the sole reason he cancelled his scheduled trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa.
“My fellow Nigerians, you will recall that I cancelled my trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable me to coordinate the security efforts at home,” Tinubu stated.
“Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State have been rescued. I am equally happy that 51 out of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger State, have been recovered.”
The President assured citizens that he is closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontlines.
“Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” he vowed.
Kwara governor commends president’s hands-on approach
Confirming the development, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, expressed excitement over the release of the 38 victims who were kidnapped from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Oke Isegun, Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area.
The abductees were freed on Sunday.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, AbdulRazaq credited the breakthrough wholly to the “hands-on approach” of Tinubu, noting that the President personally led the efforts to secure the victims’ freedom.
“The President had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 Meeting in South Africa to attend to the 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,” the governor said.
AbdulRazaq extended his gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force.
He highlighted that the police deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State on the President’s directive to bolster security in the region.
The abduction occurred on Tuesday when bandits attacked the CAC branch in Eruku, a boundary town between Kwara and Kogi states.
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A video of the incident, captured during a live stream, showed the congregation, led by a young pastor, scampering for safety as sporadic gunshots disrupted the service at approximately 6 pm.
With the victims now free, the government has thanked religious institutions, thought leaders, and the general public for their support during the crisis.
