38 Eruku Hostages Freed as AbdulRazaq Hails Tinubu’s ‘Hands-On Rescue Leadership’

Abiola Adigun|Albarka 89.9 FM| Ilorin| November 23 2025

Thirty-eight abducted worshippers from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have regained their freedom following days of coordinated security operations ordered at the highest levels of government.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced the development on Saturday, describing the release as a direct result of President Bola Tinubu’s “hands-on approach” to the crisis.
The victims were seized during an armed attack on the church community earlier in the month, an incident that deepened concerns over rising insecurity across parts of the state and neighbouring regions.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said
President Tinubu had taken personal charge of
efforts to rescue the abductees, even cancelling his scheduled trip to the G20 Meeting in South Africa to focus on the situation in Kwara and Kebbi, where separate abductions had occurred.
“This is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, who has personally led the efforts to free the abductees,” AbdulRazaq said, adding that the President’s actions underscored “his firm commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our people and Nigerians as a whole.”

Security sources had earlier confirmed intensified operations in forests along the Kwara–Kogi axis after the President ordered heightened deployments. According to the governor, the Nigeria Police dispatched four new tactical teams to the state on Tinubu’s directive, complementing efforts by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
AbdulRazaq expressed gratitude to all security agencies involved, along with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and residents who provided support during the ordeal.
The rescue operation marks one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent security responses in Kwara, following a series of abductions that have put pressure on authorities to strengthen surveillance and community policing across rural councils.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to safer communities, assuring residents that security agencies will maintain their expanded presence in vulnerable locations.
The freed victims are expected to undergo medical checks and debriefing before reuniting with their families.