In a major relief amid Nigeria’s escalating security crisis, all 38 worshippers abducted during a brazen attack on a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) branch in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been rescued by security forces. President Bola Tinubu confirmed the successful operation on Sunday, crediting coordinated efforts by federal and state agencies for the safe return of the victims, mostly women and children.
The harrowing incident unfolded on Tuesday, November 18, during an evening thanksgiving service at CAC Oke Isegun in Eruku, a border community with Kogi State. Armed bandits, suspected to be part of organized kidnapping rings operating in the North Central region, stormed the church premises, firing shots indiscriminately and herding congregants into nearby bushes. The attack, captured in a chilling livestreamed video showing worshippers fleeing amid gunfire and screams, claimed the lives of three church members—a pastor, a deacon, and another worshipper—while 38 others were taken hostage.
Eyewitnesses described the assailants as heavily armed and highly coordinated, boasting of their dominance over the surrounding forests. “They dominated the entire area,” recounted one survivor, Emmanuel, in interviews with media outlets. “They knew all the routes surrounding the bushes within Kwara and other states. They made us know that no one can slip away.” The kidnappers reportedly demanded an initial ransom of ₦100 million, later reportedly reduced to ₦20 million per person, though officials have neither confirmed nor denied any payments.
President Tinubu, who postponed his attendance at the G20 Summit in South Africa to personally oversee national security responses, announced the rescue in a statement on Sunday afternoon. “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,” he said. The operation, which culminated around 3:20 pm, involved a multi-agency combing exercise deep into bandit-controlled territories. Key players included the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force (which deployed four new tactical teams on presidential orders), National Intelligence Agency, and local vigilantes.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq echoed the president’s sentiments, expressing profound excitement over the victims’ freedom. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor lauded the “hard work by security forces and government representatives” and extended gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). “He [Tinubu] had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, which underlined his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole,” Ajakaye noted. The governor also thanked religious leaders, thought influencers, and the broader Kwara community for their support during the ordeal.
The rescued worshippers, now undergoing medical evaluations and debriefing, are set to reunite with their families soon. Survivor accounts paint a grim picture of captivity: days without food, constant threats, and the kidnappers’ taunts about their unchallenged control of forested routes linking Kwara to neighboring states like Kogi and Niger. “It was unimaginable… a terrifying act,” another victim told TVC in a post-rescue interview.
This rescue comes against a backdrop of surging insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central and North West zones, including the recent abduction of over 300 students from a Catholic school in Niger State—51 of whom escaped—and 25 girls from a secondary school in Kebbi. The Eruku attack has amplified calls for urgent federal intervention, with critics like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing the government of “surrendering to terrorists” through alleged ransom deals. However, authorities maintain the operation was force-driven, with no arrests reported yet, though investigations into the bandit networks continue.
While the safe return of the 38 worshippers offers a glimmer of hope, it underscores the persistent threat of banditry encroaching on faith-based gatherings and educational institutions. Security experts urge sustained aerial surveillance, community intelligence, and cross-state collaborations to dismantle these networks. As one X user noted amid widespread celebrations: “We thank God for their safe return, but nothing happened to any of the terrorists?”
The CAC Eruku branch, undeterred, held a subdued service on Sunday, symbolizing resilience in the face of adversity. President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s resolve: “Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety. I will not relent.”
