The 38 church worshippers kidnapped by gunmen in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have finally been reunited with their families, days after PUNCH Online reported that they had not yet been released despite the government announcing their rescue.
The victims were abducted on November 18, 2025, during a special thanksgiving service at CAC Oke Isegun, Eruku—an attack that left three people dead and one person injured.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, the Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti LGA Chairman, Dada Sunday, confirmed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq formally handed over the freed abductees to the Ekiti LGA Chairman, Awelewa Olawale Gabriel, in Ilorin.
According to the statement, the handover concluded a joint rescue operation involving both federal and state security agencies.
While receiving the victims, Awelewa expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq, the National Security Adviser and various security agencies for what he described as prompt and effective action. He also commended the medical care provided to the abductees after their release and assured residents that security across all 10 wards of Ekiti LGA would remain a top priority.
The abductees arrived back in Eruku at about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, where jubilant relatives and townspeople lined the streets to welcome them home.
The Owa of Eruku also praised the collaborative rescue effort, thanking President Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq and the security agencies for ensuring the safe return of the worshippers. He noted that the incident had caused deep anxiety across the community.
The attack highlights ongoing security concerns in Kwara’s border communities, especially in Ekiti LGA, which has faced repeated abductions in recent years.
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