The 38 worshipers abducted on 18 November 2025 in Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have safely returned home after more than a week under medical care and debriefing in Ilorin, following their rescue by security forces.
The rescued worshipers were formally handed over to the Executive Chairman of Ekiti Local Government Council, Gabriel Awelewa, on Tuesday in Ilorin. They arrived in Eruku at about 6:30 p.m., where relatives and community members greeted them with cheers, tears of joy, songs of gratitude, hugs, and shouts of welcome.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the council chairman, Prince Dada Sunday, Awelewa expressed profound gratitude to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, along with all security agencies involved in the swift operation that secured the release.
He also commended the medical care afforded to the victims, and reassured residents that his administration remains committed to strengthening security across the council’s 10 wards.
The traditional ruler of Eruku, Oba Busari Olanrewaju, described the reunion as “a huge relief to the entire community” and thanked all authorities involved in the rescue and return efforts.
The abduction happened during a Thanksgiving service at the church. According to reports, three worshipers were killed during the attack and at least six others, including a local vigilante member, sustained injuries.
The Christian Association of Nigeria had condemned the attack in strong terms, calling it “heartbreaking” and warning that the incident reflects a worrying trend of repeated assaults on Christian communities in vulnerable areas.
The association had urged security agencies to act swiftly, conduct a transparent investigation, and ensure protection for places of worship, given the rising incidence of such violence nationwide.
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