Kwara Church Worshippers Share Harrowing Experience After Being Kidnapped by Bandits
A group of 38 members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Kwara State, north-central Nigeria, have shared their traumatic experiences after being abducted by armed bandits last week. The victims, who included elderly members, children, and young adults, were rescued and are currently in Ilorin, the state capital, receiving medical attention and support before reuniting with their families.
The Abduction
The attack occurred during an evening church service on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, when gunmen stormed the church, killed two worshippers, and forcibly abducted 38 people. The victims were carried into nearby forests, with bandits reportedly well-acquainted with the bush routes linking Kwara State to neighboring states.
Bamidele Emmanuel, one of the rescued worshippers, described the ordeal as “unimaginable” and “terrifying.” He recounted how the bandits warned them against attempting escape, asserting that anyone who tried would be caught. He said, “From what we saw in the bush, it was a dominated area controlled by the bandits. They told us no one could escape without them knowing.”
Government Response
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq personally received the freed worshippers at the Government House in Ilorin. He assured that the victims would receive medical care before being reunited with their families. The governor credited President Bola Tinubu for personally leading efforts to secure the rescue.
“I am pleased to announce the freedom of 38 persons recently abducted from Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, Ekiti LGA. This comes after several days of hard work by our security forces and government representatives,” Abdulrazaq said.
The governor also highlighted that multiple security agencies—including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force—deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State following the attack.
Bandits’ Demands
A few days after the abduction, the gunmen reportedly contacted church leaders demanding N100 million per victim. It remains unclear whether any ransom was paid, although such payments are officially banned in Nigeria.
Parallel Kidnappings in Niger and Kebbi States
President Tinubu also announced that some of the students abducted from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, have been “recovered.” Earlier reports stated that 50 of over 300 children kidnapped had escaped and reunited with their parents, though confusion and skepticism persist about the details. Authorities are seeking clarification from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding the escape and reunion of the children, but responses have not been forthcoming. Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago suggested the reported numbers might be exaggerated and criticized the school for flouting closure orders, while the school denied receiving any such directive.
Meanwhile, security forces continue efforts to rescue the remaining students in Niger State and more than 20 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. The Kebbi abduction occurred at approximately 04:00 local time on Monday, 17 November.
Government Measures and Security Coordination
President Tinubu convened a security meeting at the State House with the heads of defence and intelligence agencies, including the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the DSS, to review reports and coordinate actions aimed at stabilizing the affected areas and protecting citizens.
The rescue of the CAC Eruku worshippers and ongoing operations to free kidnapped schoolchildren underscore the growing security challenges in Nigeria and the government’s intensified response to the persistent threat posed by bandits and terrorist groups.
