Thirty-eight church worshippers abducted by gunmen in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have finally regained their freedom and reunited with their families.
The victims were seized on November 18, 2025, during a thanksgiving service at CAC Oke Isegun, Eruku, in an attack that left three people dead and one injured.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, Dada Sunday, Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti LGA Chairman, confirmed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq formally handed over the freed abductees to Chairman Awelewa Olawale Gabriel in Ilorin. The release followed a coordinated rescue operation involving federal and state security agencies.
Receiving the victims, Awelewa expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq, the National Security Adviser, and security agencies for what he described as a swift and decisive intervention. He assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise security across all 10 wards. “We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the lives and property of our people are protected through a robust security network,” he said.
The abductees arrived back in Eruku at about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, where jubilant relatives and community members gathered to welcome them.
The Owa of Eruku also commended the joint rescue efforts, thanking President Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq, and security agencies for ensuring the safe return of the worshippers. “Their reunion has brought relief to the community. Since the day of the attack, we have not had rest of mind,” he said.
The incident highlights the growing security challenges in Kwara’s border communities, particularly in Ekiti LGA, which has witnessed multiple abductions in recent years.
