President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced rescue of the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State and 51 out of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger State.
President Tinubu made the announcement in his official X handle @official ABAT on Sunday.
While commending the security forces for the feat achieved in the two North Central states, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that security of lives and property will be guaranteed under his watch.
He also confirmed the recovery of 51 of the 303 students and school staff members abducted in a separate attack in Niger State.
The president said he cancelled his planned trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to coordinate national security efforts.
“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.
The announcement aligns with an earlier statement issued by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who reported on Sunday that the abductees had regained freedom following sustained military, police and intelligence operations.
The governor’s spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the success resulted from a coordinated response ordered by the president.
According to Mr Ajakaye, the president’s directive led to heightened deployments, including four specialised police units and additional troops.
He said the governor thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, the Nigerian Army and the Police for what he described as “many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives.”
The worshippers were taken when gunmen stormed their church during a midweek prayer session.
The attack occurred a day before the mass abduction in Niger State and days after another case in Kebbi, widening concerns over coordinated kidnapping rings operating across the North Central and North West regions.
The Eruku abduction had drawn nationwide attention after the attackers killed three people and took away the 38 worshippers, mostly women and children.
The state government responded by imposing temporary school closures in parts of Kwara and convening a security council meeting where commanders reviewed air missions, arrests and ground operations.
Further details about the rescue, including the location and condition of the victims, are expected to be released after official debriefings.
