The swift rescue of all 38 abducted worshippers from Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was made possible largely due to President Bola Tinubu personal coordination of the security operation, credible security sources have revealed.
Armed attackers wielding AK-47 rifles stormed the church during a service last Wednesday, firing sporadically at congregants. The assault which was unintentionally streamed live left two worshippers dead and several others injured. The gunmen retreated into the surrounding forests with 38 captives, sparking nationwide shock and international condemnation.
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According to high-level security insiders, President Tinubu took direct charge of the response from the outset, receiving continuous intelligence briefings, assessing operational strategies, and pushing for a decisive outcome. They said the President was determined to counter accusations that his administration was not doing enough to safeguard both Christian and non-Christian communities.
His involvement reportedly triggered an intensive intelligence effort, with the Office of the National Security Adviser deploying advanced mapping tools and aerial surveillance to track the kidnappers’ movements. These efforts pinpointed the criminals’ location in the Oreke Okeigbo forests in Ifelodun LGA.
Sources confirmed that the President gave the green light for the joint raid carried out on Sunday by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Air Force. The rescue operation, executed around 3:20 p.m., successfully freed all victims. It remains unclear whether the kidnappers escaped before security forces stormed the area or were neutralised during the operation, as details of the mission remain classified.
Security officials also noted that the Eruku axis has seen previous attacks, recalling a June incident in which gunmen killed two policemen and abducted Chinese workers at a nearby marble mining site.
A demographic breakdown of the rescued worshippers shows 26 females and 12 males, with ages ranging from five to 67 years. Among them are a five-year-old child, several others aged six and nine, two 10-year-olds, three pre-teens, four teenagers, and adults between 20 and 58 years old.
