The 38 victims who were saved from an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the state’s Eruku region have been received by the governor of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
Most of the victims appeared elderly and worn-out at the Government House clinic, where medical staff members treated them.
Read more about Kwara Church holding its first service following a bandit attack and confirming the arrest of 38 worshipers kidnapped.
One of the freed victims described the bandits’ cruelty as harrowing.
The man explained that it was challenging to break free from the bandits because those who were in need of them were given drugs, water, food, and those who were weak were taken into the hospital.
One of the church’s pastor thanked the federal and state governments for allowing the worshipers to leave.
On his arrival at the clinic, the state governor spoke with some of the victims and assessed the situation of those receiving care inside.
He continued, there was no time to celebrate the victims’ release because they had been held captive in other states.
He thanked President Tinubu for his assistance in bringing the captives free.
38 worshipers were set free on Sunday, according to the Kwara State Government.
However, it did not detail how the abducted people regained their freedom in a statement signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, his chief press secretary.
During a church service on Tuesday, gunmen abducted 38 worshipers and killed three people in an attack on the parish.
Many residents fled into nearby bushes for safety, according to eyewitnesses in the community who reported to Channels Television that the attackers stormed the area “suddenly and heavily armed.”
The bandits had requested $3 billion to release the victims, but the ransom was later reduced to $760 million.
Additionally, the attack sparked a protest by the neighborhood’s angry youths.
President Tinubu awaited further security updates on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on the church worshippers as he delayed making his scheduled travels to Johannesburg in South Africa and Luanda in Angola in response to the attack and others.
He also gave instructions to the police to pursue bandits who attacked worshippers.
The church held its first service on Sunday, where it clarified how many people had been abducted before the victims’ release was made public.
Church leaders encouraged members to attend the service as a show of faith and resilience, according to Michael Agbabiaka, the church secretary.
