There was overwhelming relief in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, as 38 kidnapped members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) were rescued and brought home in visibly weakened condition after days in captivity. A video obtained by Headlinenews.news shows the victims arriving exhausted and distressed, underscoring the severe circumstances they endured.
The worshippers were abducted last week while travelling for a church programme. Their rescue, achieved through coordinated efforts of security agencies and local vigilante networks, brought emotional scenes as families, clergy and community members gathered to receive them.
The people of Eruku, while expressing gratitude to the government and security operatives for the timely intervention that preserved the lives of the 38 victims, issued a strong appeal for urgent and decisive action to rescue the many others still held captive across the country.
Calls Intensify for Immediate Rescue of Remaining Victims Nationwide
The successful operation in Kwara has renewed public pressure for similar outcomes in other states battling kidnapping crises. Nigerians are urging the government to replicate the same level of urgency and coordination to rescue:
The kidnapped schoolgirls from MAGA
Worshippers abducted from St. Peter’s Church in Nasarawa
Victims taken from St. Mary’s in Niger State
Multiple abductees across Kebbi and other northern states
Community leaders, civil society groups and security analysts insist that every remaining victim must be rescued within the next 24 hours, warning that prolonged captivity increases both psychological trauma and risk of casualties.
A Nation Exhausted by Insecurity Demands a New Security Architecture
The rescue in Kwara, though commendable, again exposes the scale of Nigeria’s insecurity and the urgent need for systemic reform. Analysts note that the country cannot continue responding to kidnappings only after tragedies occur. An effective national strategy requires:
An immediate overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture
Replacement of ineffective personnel with proven professionals
Deployment of well-trained, intelligence-driven specialists to high-risk regions
A unified national command structure that eliminates duplication and sabotage
Investment in technology, intelligence gathering, and community policing
Nigeria is rich in highly trained, globally exposed human resources. Experts insist it is time to put competence over sentiment, as national security can no longer be managed through political patronage or outdated structures.
Negotiating with Bandits: A Dangerous Precedent That Must End
While many Nigerians are relieved that the Kwara victims were returned alive, there is growing concern that kidnapping has become a commercial enterprise. Security experts warn that negotiations — when they occur — embolden criminal networks, expand their capacity, and multiply attacks.
Many Nigerians insist that after the remaining abductees are safely rescued, government must enforce a total policy reversal:
No more negotiations
No more ransom payments
No more empowering criminal syndicates
Failure to take a firm stance, they warn, will turn banditry into a permanent pipeline of revenue for armed groups.
Government Commended — But Nigerians Demand Proactive Action
The swift rescue in Kwara demonstrates what is possible when government mobilises resources with urgency. Nigerians across various regions have expressed appreciation for this intervention, but they also stress that reactive operations are no longer enough.
What the nation requires now is:
Proactive intelligence to prevent abductions before they occur
Rapid deployment capacity in vulnerable rural areas
Visible state presence in forests, highways and border regions
A nationwide counter-kidnapping framework coordinated with local communities
Nigeria cannot continue losing citizens to preventable attacks.
The Way Forward
With 38 rescued in Kwara, the nation’s attention turns to those still in captivity. For their families, every hour counts. Nigerians are hoping that the successful rescue in Eruku becomes a turning point — not an isolated victory.
The government is urged to:
Intensify operations immediately
Deploy specialised rescue units
Prioritise safe recovery of all remaining victims
Demonstrate zero tolerance for terrorism and banditry
Implement long-overdue security reforms without sentiments or delay
The message from citizens is unmistakable: Enough is enough. Nigeria must protect its people, restore its dignity, and end the cycle of mass abductions once and for all.
Dr. G. Fraser. MFR.
The National Patriots.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
