The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has received the 38 rescued victims of the attack on a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku area of the state.
At the Government House clinic, where medical workers attended to them, most of the victims appeared haggard and exhausted.
One of the freed victims described the ordeal in the hands of the bandits as harrowing.
With the provision of drugs, water, and food — and some of the weaker victims taken into the hospital — the man explained that escaping from the bandits’ grip had been extremely difficult.
One of the pastors of the church expressed gratitude to both the federal and state governments for the release of the worshippers.
On his arrival at the clinic, the state governor interacted with some of the victims and assessed the condition of those receiving treatment.
He noted that the release of the victims was not yet a moment for celebration, as many other captives in different states remained in captivity.
He thanked President Ahmed Tinubu for his efforts toward securing the victims’ release.
The Kwara State Government announced the release of the 38 worshippers on Sunday.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, it, however, did not disclose how the abductees regained their freedom.
Gunmen had launched an attack on the parish last Tuesday, abducting 38 worshippers and killing three people during a church service.
Eyewitnesses in the community told Channels Television that the attackers stormed the area “suddenly and heavily armed,” causing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
The bandits had initially demanded ₦3 billion for the release of the victims but later reduced the ransom to ₦760 million.
The attack also triggered a protest by angry youths in the community.
In response to the attack and others, President Tinubu postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg in South Africa and Luanda, Angola, as he awaited further security updates on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on the church worshippers.
He also directed the police to go after the bandits responsible.
Before the announcement of the victims’ release, the church held its first service on Sunday, where the actual number of abducted worshippers was clarified.
The Church Secretary, Michael Agbabiaka, said that despite the fear and trauma, church leaders encouraged members to attend the service as an act of faith and resilience.
In his sermon, the presiding pastor, Bamidele Lawrence, described the incident as a test of faith and reminded the congregation that God had promised that the abducted worshippers would return alive, likening their experience to the biblical trials of the Israelites.