A worshipper abducted in last week’s attack on a church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State has revealed that the terrorists who kidnapped them operate from a fully dominated enclave and possess extensive knowledge of bush routes linking several states.
The victim, who spoke with journalists on Sunday shortly after regaining freedom, recounted the moment heavily armed men stormed the church during an evening programme.
“About 30 minutes into the programme, after everybody had settled, I suddenly heard gunshots,” the victim said. “At first, I didn’t even recognise it. I thought it was just the sound of an electrical wire sparking. But within moments, they had surrounded the whole church.” He said worshippers were thrown into confusion, with some people beginning to notice drops of blood on the floor during the chaos of the invasion.
The abducted members were taken deep into the forest, where the victim said they discovered that the attackers were operating in territory they had fully taken over. “When we got there, we didn’t know it was a dominated area,” he said. “It was unimaginable. They boldly told us they are bandits and that nobody escapes from that place without being caught.” He added that the kidnappers openly bragged about their control and mastery of the terrain. “From that place they have dominated, they know all the roads surrounding those bushes in Kwara and other states,” he said, noting that the gang’s mobility and familiarity with forest routes make them even more dangerous.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had earlier announced the release of 38 persons who were abducted during the attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku. The freed abductees regained their freedom on Sunday, November 23, after several days of coordinated efforts by security forces and government representatives. The information was disclosed in a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
According to the statement, Governor AbdulRazaq attributed the successful rescue to the “hands-on approach” of President Bola Tinubu, who directed measures to secure the release. “The President had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 Meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States,” the statement said. “He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole.” “The abductees were freed today, November 23,” the statement said.
The governor expressed his gratitude to the President, saying the release “is wholly due to his direct initiative.” He also extended appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police, which deployed four new tactical teams to the state under the President’s directive.
