ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, November 23, 2025, announced the rescue of all 38 worshippers abducted during the attack on the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan, in Eruku, Kwara State, describing the operation as a result of sustained, coordinated efforts by security agencies.
Armed men had stormed the church during a prayer service on 19 November, killing three people and seizing dozens of worshippers — most of them women and children — in an assault that drew nationwide alarm.
The attack occurred less than 24 hours before a mass abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State and days after another kidnapping incident in Kebbi, fuelling fears of an expanding abduction network across Nigeria’s North Central and North West regions.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 23, 2025, Tinubu said he had been “closely monitoring the security situation nationwide” and receiving continuous briefings on rescue operations.
“Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State, have been rescued,” he said.
The president also confirmed that 51 of the 303 students and staff abducted at St. Mary’s School in Niger State had been recovered.
He said he cancelled his planned attendance at the G20 Summit in South Africa to coordinate national security responses.
“Let me be clear. I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety. Under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” he said.
Tinubu’s announcement aligns with an earlier confirmation from Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whose office reported that the abductees had regained freedom following multi-agency operations.
The governor’s spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the success was achieved after Tinubu ordered heightened deployments, including four specialised police units and additional troops.
Ajakaye said the governor expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force for “many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives.”
The Kwara State Government had earlier imposed temporary school closures in vulnerable areas and convened a security council meeting where commanders reviewed air missions, arrests and ground manoeuvres.
Details of the rescue, including the exact location and condition of the victims, are expected after official debriefings.
