It was song of victory as the thirty-eight members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, who were abducted by bandits during a Thanksgiving service, regained their freedom after five days in captivity.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, announced their release in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaiye.
According to the state government, the successful rescue of the victims was made possible through the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the combined efforts of various security agencies. However, details regarding how and where the victims were freed remained unclear as of press time.
The statement reads in part:
“After many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON) is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State.
“The Governor says this is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, who has personally led the efforts to free the abductees.
“The abductees were freed today, November 23. The Governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for his direct initiative that made this happen.
“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 also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, underscoring his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole.
“The Governor expresses appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser; the Department of State Services (DSS); the Nigerian Army; the Nigerian Intelligence Agency; and the Nigeria Police Force, which deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State on the directive of the President.
“The Governor further thanks members of the security forces, thought leaders, religious institutions, and all Kwarans for their support and goodwill since the unfortunate incident.”
