ICYMI: Relief at Last as 38 Abducted Kwara Worshippers Walk Free

By: Akinde S. Oluwaseun

For days, the whole community held its breath. Stiff air. Quiet prayers. Then—finally—some good news dropped. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the 38 people taken during that shocking attack at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku have been freed. Just like that, hope crawled back in.

The announcement came through his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday. Short message, but it carried weight. The governor sounded relieved, almost tired, saying the breakthrough came after long, gritty hours by security teams and government folks running up and down. And he didn’t hide who he felt made the biggest push: President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the President literally stepped in—hands-on, no ceremony—driving the rescue effort himself. He even shelved a big international trip, the G20 meeting in South Africa, just to keep an eye on things in Kwara and Kebbi. That kinda move says a lot, whether you agree with him or not.

Security men on ground—DSS, Army, Police, intelligence outfits, even new tactical squads—joined forces to comb the forests till something gave way. And it did. On November 23, the abductees finally regained freedom.

Officials weren’t the only ones on edge. Folks in the CAC community had been waiting by the hour. Michael Agbabiaka, the church secretary, said the DSS called around 4 pm to confirm the captives had been released. But the community still waited, nervous and excited all at once, hoping to see their people alive and breathing.

The whole saga had rattled everyone. Three worshippers killed. Thirty-eight taken. One of the biggest mass abductions Kwara has seen in a while, stirring loud outrage across the country and fears about rising bandit activity near the state’s borders. But for today—just today—relief wins.