The 38 church worshippers abducted by gunmen in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been reunited with their families.
The Telegraph reports that the victims were abducted on November 18, 2025, during a special thanksgiving service at CAC Oke Isegun, Eruku, an attack in which three people were killed and another wounded.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, the Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti Local Government Council Chairman, Dada Sunday, confirmed that the freed abductees were formally handed over to the Ekiti LGA Chairman, Awelewa Olawale Gabriel, in Ilorin by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The statement said the handover marked the conclusion of a coordinated rescue operation involving federal and state security agencies.
Receiving the victims, Awelewa thanked President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq, the National Security Adviser and the security agencies for what he described as a swift and decisive intervention.
“We appreciate the comprehensive medical care and support given to the abductees after their rescue,” he said, assuring residents that his administration would continue to prioritise security across all 10 wards of the LGA. “We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the lives and property of our people are protected through a robust security network.”
The abductees returned to Eruku at about 6:30pm on Tuesday, where jubilant relatives and community members welcomed them home.
Also speaking, the Owa of Eruku praised the joint rescue effort, thanking President Tinubu, the governor and security agencies for ensuring the safe return of the worshippers.
The incident underscores the worsening security challenges in Kwara’s border communities, particularly in Ekiti LGA, which has recorded multiple abductions in recent years.
