President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday announced that all 38 worshippers seized during an attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, have been freed.
The victims were abducted on Tuesday when gunmen broke into the church during an evening service, forcing congregants out after a barrage of gunfire disrupted the ongoing worship. Footage from the live-streamed service, which circulated online, captured the moment panic erupted inside the church.
In a statement shared on X by his media aide, Olusegun Dada, the president said coordinated action by security agencies led to the safe release of the abducted worshippers.
Tinubu also disclosed progress in a separate incident in Niger State, confirming that 51 students kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School had been rescued, while search-and-rescue teams continue efforts to locate others still in captivity.
Although security officials have yet to provide specifics on how the operations were executed, authorities say surveillance and joint ground deployments played a key role in the breakthroughs.
The president commended the military and police for what he described as a renewed commitment to tackling the surge in mass abductions affecting communities across the North, particularly in Kwara and Niger states.
The Eruku attack and subsequent rescue have intensified public concern over the vulnerability of rural worship centres and schools. Residents of the border community, which lies between Kwara and Kogi, have repeatedly appealed for a stronger security presence, warning that bandit activity in the area has become increasingly aggressive.
Further briefings are expected as security agencies continue mop-up operations and provide updates on the Niger school abduction.
