Key Points

• Thirty eight worshippers abducted during a Thanksgiving service in Kwara regained freedom after five days.

• Officials credit President Tinubu’s intervention and increased security deployment.

• Details on the rescue remain unclear as the state government thanks multiple security agencies.

Thirty eight members of Christ Apostolic Church Oke Isegun in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have regained freedom five days after bandits abducted them during a Thanksgiving service.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced their release on Sunday through a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaiye.

He credited the development to the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the efforts of security agencies.

However, details on how and where the worshippers were rescued remained unclear at the time of the announcement.

Government attributes release to joint effort

The statement noted that security forces and government representatives worked for several days before securing the release of the abducted congregation.

According to the statement, Tinubu adopted a hands on approach. It added that the President called off his scheduled trip to the G20 meeting in South Africa to focus on the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States. He also ordered increased security deployment to Kwara.

The Governor expressed appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency and the Nigeria Police.

He noted that the police deployed four new tactical teams to the state on the directive of the President.

The statement also thanked religious institutions, community leaders and residents of the state for their support since the attack.