Thirty-eight members of the Catholic Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have regained their freedom after days in captivity.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday evening.
Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq described the release as a major breakthrough, attributing it largely to the direct intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the governor, President Tinubu personally took charge of security efforts and even postponed his scheduled G20 trip to South Africa to address the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi states.
Ajakaye noted that security operatives, working in close collaboration with federal and state authorities, intensified rescue operations that eventually culminated in the safe liberation of all 38 abducted worshippers. The victims were reunited with their families on Sunday, November 23.
Governor AbdulRazaq expressed profound appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force, which deployed four new tactical teams to the state on the President’s orders.
He also thanked religious leaders, community stakeholders, and residents of Kwara State for their patience, cooperation, and support throughout the ordeal.
The incident and subsequent rescue highlight the ongoing collaboration between federal and state governments in tackling insecurity and safeguarding citizens across the countrry