President Bola Tinubu on Sunday announced the rescue of all 38 worshippers abducted earlier in the week from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. He also confirmed that 51 missing students of a Catholic school in Niger State had been recovered.

In a post on his verified X handle, the President said the breakthroughs followed several days of coordinated operations by security agencies, which he personally supervised after cancelling his planned trip to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“You will recall that I cancelled my trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable me coordinate the security efforts at home.

“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.

“I am equally happy that 51 out of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger State have been recovered,” he wrote.

President Tinubu assured that he was monitoring the security situation closely and receiving continuous updates from the frontline.

“Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” he added.

Gunmen had last Tuesday attacked the parish, abducting 38 worshippers and killing three people during a church service. Eyewitnesses told Channels Television that the attackers arrived “suddenly and heavily armed,” forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.

“They came around nightfall and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken,” one resident said.

The bandits initially demanded ₦3 billion for the release of the victims but later reduced the ransom to ₦760 million. The attack sparked outrage among youths in the community, who blocked the Ilorin–Kabba highway in protest, alleging that the hour-long assault occurred without any response from security operatives stationed in the town.

In response to the attack and others, President Tinubu postponed his scheduled trips to South Africa and Angola as he awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the abducted worshippers. He also directed the police to go after the perpetrators.

The church held its first service on Sunday, where the leadership clarified the actual number of victims abducted. The Church Secretary, Mr. Michael Agbabiaka, said that despite fear and trauma, members were encouraged to attend the service as an expression of faith and resilience.

“As you can see, only a few people are present, but we thank God for life and for strengthening us. We also appreciate the government for deploying security operatives who are now patrolling the town and the church,” he said.

In his sermon, the presiding pastor, Rev. Bamidele Lawrence, described the incident as a test of faith. He told the congregation that God had promised the safe return of the abducted worshippers, likening their ordeal to the biblical trials of the Israelites.