38 Ekuru Worshippers Freed, 51 Students Rescued, 13 Niger Teachers Still in Captivity
38 Ekuru Worshippers Freed, 51 Students Rescued, 13 Niger Teachers Still in Captivity
*Tinubu: I Won’t relent, we’ll secure Nigeria
*Meets COAS, CAS, DG DSS, IG, others
*Directs withdrawal of police officers guarding VIPs for core official duties
*Govt must expose those waging war against Nigeria, Olanipekun advises
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin, Laleye Dipo in Minna, Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
There were mixed feelings, yesterday, in parts of the country after 38 worshippers, who were abducted last week in Ekuru, Kwara State, were freed and 50 of the St Mary’s Private Primary and Secondary school students, kidnapped in Papiri town, Niger State, were also rescued by the combined forces of the nation’s security.
Unfortunately, while celebrations were going on in parts of Kwara and Niger States in the aftermath of the news, the 13 teachers reportedly kidnapped alongside their students in Papiri, were still in the captivity of their abductors.
The 38 worshippers and 50 students were kidnapped recently during attacks by suspected bandits.
Personally announcing the development, President Bola Tinubu, writing on his official X handle @OfficialABAT, assured the Nigerian people that he would not relent in securing the nation and declared that: “We will secure this nation and protect our people.”
Tinubu said every Nigerian, in any part of the country, had the right to safety.
Posting on X, the president said he was closely monitoring the security situation and receiving updates from across the country.
“Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” he stated.
Tinubu, while saluting the efforts of the security forces in the rescue operations, wrote, “My fellow Nigerians, you will recall that I cancelled my trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable me coordinate the security efforts at home.
“Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State, have been rescued.
“I am equally happy that 51 out of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger State, have been recovered. I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline.”
The president later met with top brass of both the military and other security agencies at State House, Abuja.
He declared, also on X, that decisive steps were being taken to stabilise areas affected by the recent surge in security breaches.
The president assured Nigerians that those threatening the territorial integrity of the country will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He stated that he was meeting with the heads of the military, police, and intelligence services at State House, Abuja, on the security situation.
Tinubu stated, “We are reviewing the latest reports and taking decisive actions to stabilise the affected areas and protect our citizens. I am receiving continuous briefings and have directed our security services to move with speed, precision, and absolute resolve.
“As president, I am fully committed to the security of all Nigerians. Those who threaten the peace and security of our nation will face the full weight of the law. Nigeria will prevail.”
Meanwhile, the president ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security to Very Important Persons (VIPs) in the country.
According to a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the police authorities will henceforth deploy the officers to concentrate on their core police duties.
The directive was issued at the security meeting between the president and the police, defence chiefs, and Director-General of DSS in Abuja.
According to the directive, VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus, making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.
In view of the current security challenges facing the country, Tinubu said he was desirous of boosting police presence in all communities.
To that end, he approved the recruitment of additional 30,000 police officers, just as the federal government was also collaborating with the states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
50 Students Escape from Kidnappers, 13 Teachers Still in Captivity as Parent Pleads
At least 50 students of St. Mary’s Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri town, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, kidnapped last week, reportedly, escaped from their abductors
THISDAY learnt that 10 of the escaped students were girls, going by the names given on the manifest released by the school on Sunday.
Earlier, 11 students had escaped from the kidnappers, bringing the number of those that regained their freedom to 66.
But there was no report on any of the kidnapped teachers yet.
It was gathered that in the primary section of the school, now closed, out of the 430 pupils, 377 were boarders, while the remaining 53 were non-boarders.
Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also Proprietor of the school as well as Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, gave the update in a statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Daniel Atori, in Minna on Sunday.
Yohanna also said 141 students of the schools, initially feared to have been abducted, were not kidnapped. He added that the 61 students and the 141 had reunited with their parents.
It was initially said in a statement by Yohanna that 315 students were abducted by the terrorists, who raided the school last weekend.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago visited the emirate headquarters of the area, where the incident took place, on Saturday and blamed the incident on “informants”.
Speaking at the palace of Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Musa Kigera, Bago said informants remained “a major enabler of terrorist operations “and therefore suggested that applying tougher sanctions against them will significantly curb the wave of attacks”.
He assured the people that security agencies, in collaboration with the state government, were working to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted schoolchildren.
The monarch lamented the growing presence of bandits in the Borgu forest and appealed to both the state and federal authorities to reclaim the area and restore its economic value.
UMCA’s Reverend Yohanna Yakubu, whose 23-year-old daughter, Mercy Yohanna, was among those kidnapped, in a telephone interview with THISDAY, pleaded with Bago “to help rescue my daughter”.
Yakubu stated that since the incident occurred, the girl’s mother, who was teaching in the primary school wing, had not been herself.
He said Mercy was residing in the staff quarters of the school in Papiri and they were expecting her to come home for the Christmas holiday before her kidnap.
The clergyman said the community never had any inkling that the incident would happen.
38 Eruku Worshippers Regain Freedom, Abdulrazaq Hails Tinubu for Quick Action
All the 38 worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku town, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, who were recently abducted in an attack by suspected bandits, reportedly, regained their freedom.
The victims were said to have regained their freedom after many days of hard work by security forces.
A statement in Ilorin, yesterday, by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, said, “The governor is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons, who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara Kwara.”
The governor said this was wholly due to the hands-on approach of Tinubu, who had personally led the efforts to free the abductees.
The statement said, “The abductees were freed today, November 23, and the governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu, for his direct initiative that made this happen.
“The president had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi states.
“He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our people and Nigerians as a whole.”
The governor expressed appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and, Nigeria Police, which had deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State on the directive of the president.
Meanwhile, worshippers yesterday converged at the church to hold its first service after the attack on the church last week.
The service, conducted inside the blood-stained auditorium where the attack occurred last Tuesday, was dominated by prayers for the release of the kidnapped worshippers and the repose of the soul of the deceased.
Presiding Pastor, Mr. Bamidele Lawrence, in his sermon, described the incident as a test of faith and revealed that he received divine assurances regarding the safety of the kidnapped.
Lawrence told the congregation that God had promised that the abducted worshippers would return alive, likening their situation to the biblical trials of the Israelites.
One worshipper, James Ige, whose wife and son were among those kidnapped, appealed to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, saying his family’s fate rests on the government’s ability to act swiftly.
The church secretary, Mr. Michael Agbabiaka, confirmed that 38 persons were abducted, contrary to earlier figures circulating on social media.
According to Agbabiaka, the church initially compiled 35 names, but a later verification exercise identified three additional non-members who were also kidnapped during the siege.
He said, “Rumours that over 60 people were abducted are not true. We have 38 people still in the bush. Three people died, and one is in the hospital receiving treatment. I have their names and phone numbers. We don’t want misinformation.”
Kebbi Orders Closure of All Schools
Kebbi State Government announced the immediate shutdown of all public and private secondary schools as well as all tertiary institutions across the state, with the exception of College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery in the capital, Birnin Kebbi.
The directive, signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, was conveyed by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Issa Abubakar‑Tunga, and Hon. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Bande.
The commissioners explained that the closure was prompted by a recent surge in attacks in parts of the state, which made it necessary to suspend academic activities for the safety of students and staff.
“Following the recent cases of attacks in part of the state, the closure of both public, private and state‑owned institutions has become necessary,” the commissioners said, in the statement.
They listed the affected tertiary institutions as Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari, Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology (Aliero), College of Health Sciences and Technology (Jega), Adamu Augie College of Education (Argungu), and School of Remedial Studies (Yauri).
All public and private secondary schools will also remain closed until further notice, the statement said.
It added, “The only institution not affected is the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery located in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi.”
The commissioners urged school administrators to comply with the directive and remain calm, assuring that a new resumption date would be communicated as soon as situations improve.
“We advise all institutions’ management to remain calm as a new resumption date will be communicated in due course,” they said.
The state government emphasised that the decision was temporary and aimed at safeguarding the education community while security measures were reinforced.
The closure marked the latest in a series of security‑driven measures taken by the state, which had been grappling with rising incidents of violence in several local government areas.
The government did not disclose a timeline for reopening of the schools, but it pledged to restore normalcy as quickly as possible.
Bandits Kill JIBWIS Officer, Abduct Nursing Wife in Bauchi
Suspected kidnappers, in the late hours of Saturday, November 22, stormed Zalau, a village in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, where they attacked and killed one Alhaji Muhammad Bakoshi, an Islamic cleric.
The armed bandits, whose number could not be ascertained, were reported to have attacked the home of the late Islamic cleric, who was Discipline Officer of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Zalau.
THISDAY checks revealed that he was killed, while his wife, who gave birth just two weeks ago, was abducted.
A resident of the village, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the development had thrown the community into fear and grief, as they had been exposed to insecurity and bandits attack.
The residents said the community was praying for the abducted woman’s safe return and strength for the family in the difficult time.
“Bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria do not target only Christians. These criminals go after anyone they see as vulnerable, regardless of religion. Let’s focus on safety and unity, not divide ourselves by faith,” they stated.
DHQ Reviews Troops Deployment
Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said it was aware of the claim by Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Idris, that terrorists struck only 30 minutes after troops were withdrawn from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of the state.
It said a thorough review was underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding troop deployment and movements at the time of the incident.
DHQ, however, expressed deep concern over the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from the school, and also the abductions from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Describing the attacks as “heinous”, DHQ extended its thoughts to the students, their families, and the affected communities.
In a statement, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are fully engaged in ongoing operations to ensure the safe rescue of the girls and the apprehension of the perpetrators.
“All operational decisions are based on intelligence assessments and the broader security architecture of the region. Nevertheless, if the ongoing review identifies any lapse or gap, the Armed Forces will take immediate corrective action to prevent a recurrence.”
The military further reiterated its commitment to working closely with state authorities, community leaders, and other security agencies to strengthen protection around schools and vulnerable communities.
It assured Nigerians that the rescue of the abducted students was a top priority, with troops actively pursuing all actionable intelligence to ensure their safe return.
Acknowledging public concerns over the rising insecurity in parts of the north, DHQ stressed that the armed forces remained fully committed to restoring peace and stability across all affected areas.
JTF Commander: No Safe Place for Bandits
Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North West (JTF NW), Operation Fansān Yamma (OPFY), Major-General Warrah Idris, directed troops to maintain unyielding pressure on the criminals responsible for the recent abduction at St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
“The bandits are clearly feeling the heat of our operations and will find no safe haven,” Idris said.
The commander issued the directive during a visit to the scene of the abduction on November 22.
The development was confirmed in a statement by Media Information Officer of Operation Fansān Yamma, Captain David Adewusi.
During the visit, Idris carried out an on-the-spot assessment to get first-hand operational insight into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
He was received and briefed by General Officer Commanding 2 Division, and Commander, Sector 3 OPFY, Major-General C. R. Nnebiefe, on ongoing coordinated efforts with other security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.
Reaffirming the theatre’s determination to bring the perpetrators to justice, Idris underscored the importance of relentless pursuit.
“Remain vigilant and unrelenting in pursuing them, without granting any respite, until every one of the captured students is safely recovered and reunited with their families,” he ordered.
The theatre commander further expressed confidence in the troops’ capability and commitment, assuring them that all necessary resources, support, and operational enablers would be provided to ensure the success of the mission.
Barau Urges Arewa to Leverage Presidential Backing, Increased Revenue
Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, called on northern political, traditional and civic leaders to take full advantage of Tinubu’s support for the region and the significant rise in subnational revenues to confront the escalating security challenges facing the region.
Barau spoke at the 25th Anniversary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna.
He said the north currently occupied “a position of unique political advantage” owing to what he described as Tinubu’s unwavering receptiveness to northern concerns and requests.
According to him, the president has repeatedly demonstrated commitment to the region through interventions in security, agriculture, education, and rapid responses to emergencies across the north.
Barau said, “We have never taken any request tied to the north to him without receiving support. Whatever we take to him in terms of our needs, he will definitely deliver.”
The deputy senate president, who also serves as First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, urged northern governors, federal lawmakers, and regional stakeholders to harness the goodwill to design and implement coordinated security strategies.
He said the region could not afford fragmented responses when the political atmosphere and fiscal inflows were favourable.
Barau drew attention to the rising revenues now flowing to state governments, stating that enhanced fiscal capacity must translate into deliberate investment in security architecture, intelligence networks, and local policing efforts.
“The National Assembly is ready to support and co-fund initiatives that will strengthen security and drive development across the region,” he said.
Citing the South-west as an example, Barau said the establishment of the Amotekun Corps had contributed significantly to stabilising the zone and making it one of the safest parts of the country. He said the north could replicate such success if its leaders committed to unified action.
Ex-PSC Chair, Okeke, Says State Police’ll End Escalating Security Threats in Nigeria
Former Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Chief Simon Okeke, reiterated his call for state police, insisting it remains the most effective solution to Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Okeke stated that Nigeria was the only federal state operating a centralised policing system, a structure he said undermined the ability of governors — constitutionally regarded as chief security officers — to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.
According to him, empowering states with their own police organisations would enhance accountability, improve community-based intelligence, and allow for faster crime prevention.
He stressed that the current arrangement, in which Commissioners of Police took directives solely from the Inspector-General of Police, continued to weaken local security efforts.
Despite acknowledging potential risks of political misuse, Okeke expressed confidence that robust checks and balances by the National Assembly would prevent abuses and ensure that state policing strengthened, rather than threatened, democratic governance.
Okeke made the remarks while speaking at the official unveiling of My Stewardship: A Compendium of Police Service Commission Media Engagements, 2013 to 2015, a new book authored by a former Head of Press and Public Relations at the Police Service Commission, Ikechukwu Ani.
He stated, “Nigeria is the only federal state in the world that has a centralised policing system, and that should not be the case. Until the country allows the states to address their own security threats, we will continue to move in circles of insecurity. The governors should be empowered by law to operate as the chief security officers of their states.
“The security of life and property is given priority in the constitution, so there ought to be state police, enabling each governor to be responsible for the security of life and property within his or her territorial jurisdiction. Until that is done, we are simply wasting our time.
“The security situation in the country is worsening by the day. The constitution states that the governors are the chief security officers of their respective states, yet they do not have the legal authority to direct the police to take specific actions to prevent crime.
“Commissioners of Police take orders from the Inspector-General of Police, not the state governors. For a Commissioner of Police to obey an order from a governor, he must first obtain clearance from the Inspector-General of Police; without such clearance, he will act otherwise.
“I am, therefore, standing before you to say that this is wrong. Like every other institution, state police have its downsides, but I am optimistic that the National Assembly will put adequate checks and balances in place to prevent abuse by governors. Measures must be established to ensure that state police are not used to pursue personal interests or to target opposition and dissenting voices.”
In his remarks, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd), wished Ani well in his next endeavours.
Represented by the chairman of the commission’s Standing Committee on Police Matters, Barrister Taiwo Lakanu, Argungu stated that Ani would be missed for his dedication and commitment to duty.
Earlier, Ani urged staff of the commission to give their best, even if the job was not well paid.
Olanipekun: Government Must Expose Those Waging War Against Nigeria
Former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, called on the federal government to boldly reveal and prosecute individuals and groups undermining Nigeria’s security and unity.
Speaking with journalists at his Ikere-Ekiti country home, Olanipekun warned that Nigeria could not overcome its persistent insecurity challenges unless those “fuelling insurgency and sabotaging the nation from within” were openly identified and held accountable.
Olanipekun said national leaders must stop pretending that the country was not in a dire situation, stressing that although the Tinubu administration inherited many of the current security and economic challenges, it must not hesitate to confront the forces destabilising the country.
He lamented the “wickedness of man to man,” questioning why Nigerians kill and kidnap fellow citizens with impunity.
He stated, “Which parent would be happy when their child is kidnapped? We must learn to love ourselves. We must remember that no matter who you are — kidnapper, killer, politician or ordinary citizen — we will all die one day. So why destroy your own people?”
The legal icon insisted that some Nigerians claiming patriotism were working actively against the country.
He said, “My advice to government is simple: stop pretending. We know those behind these acts. As Pastor Enoch Adeboye once said, if we know them, why can’t we expose them? That is the essence of being a nation. You cannot sabotage your country and go free. It cannot happen in America.”
He wondered why the government continued to “describe a spade as an agricultural instrument” instead of naming those allegedly sponsoring violence and instability.
Olanipekun expressed concern that foreign leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, now lectured Nigeria on putting its house in order, a sign, he said, the country was ignoring because it knew its source.
“In Nigeria, people behave as if they are above the law. They make statements as if nobody can question them. It is not right,” he said.
Olanipekun maintained that the solution to Nigeria’s problems was not external intervention, but honest self-examination and decisive action.
He stated, “The way out is to do the needful: expose those working against this country. It is time for Nigerians to feel remorseful, to learn to live together, and to build bridges that will not collapse in a few years.”
CISLAC: Nigeria Can’t Continue to Operate Under Weak Security Framework
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in collaboration with Transparency International Nigeria, warned that the country could not continue to function under what it described as a weak, uncoordinated, and increasingly politicised security architecture.
The organisation said urgent and decisive reforms were needed to safeguard the lives, dignity, and future of millions of Nigerians.
The warning was issued weekend by CISLAC’s Executive Director and Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, who expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity across the country, particularly the recurring attacks on schoolchildren and the growing strain on Nigeria’s security institutions.
Rafsanjani said the government’s “uncoordinated and politicised” security approach was fuelling instability and leaving citizens vulnerable to preventable harm.
CISLAC and Transparency International Nigeria called for comprehensive security sector reforms anchored on accountability, intelligence-led operations, upgraded equipment, improved welfare, professional conduct, and stronger interagency coordination.
They stated that despite constitutional provisions assigning primary responsibility for internal security to the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army remained heavily deployed across nearly all states.
According to Rafsanjani, corruption within the security sector, years of neglect, inadequate equipment, poor welfare systems, and a lack of effective interagency cooperation have all contributed to an overreliance on the military and a weakened national security response.
CISLAC condemned the recent abductions in Kebbi State and the kidnapping of pupils from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Niger State, describing the incidents as direct assaults on education and the future of Nigerian children.
Rafsanjani said such attacks exacerbated the country’s already alarming number of out-of-school children and further compromised children’s safety and dignity.
He also criticised the diversion of police officers to politicians and private individuals, stating that the practice deprives vulnerable communities and schools of essential protection.
LP: Nigeria Drifting Towards State Failure
Labour Party (LP) condemned the abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State, warning that Nigeria isdrifting dangerously towards state failure.
Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, in a statement, yesterday, said the ease with which such a large number of children were taken without early detection underscored the severity of the security crisis confronting the country.
“If over 300 children could be abducted so effortlessly and without early detection, then the crisis confronting us is far more alarming than many may yet appreciate,” she said.
Usman cautioned that the Nigerian state could not continue to watch helplessly while its citizens were attacked with reckless abandon.
She said, “Our country is drifting dangerously towards the precipice of state failure, and this reality should trouble every well-meaning Nigerian.
“Nothing captures our national distress more starkly than the current surge of violence across the country.”
Usman lamented that schools, “the very beacon of hope and pathway to the future for our children”, were now being shut down across the country because the state could no longer guarantee their safety.
According to her, “This is unacceptable and should alarm every one of us.”
Usman also urged the government to confront the hunger and extreme hardship ravaging the country, stating that insecurity is inevitable in a society where poverty has reached catastrophic levels.
“He who sows the wind should not be surprised to reap the whirlwind,” she warned, calling on the government to demonstrate sincerity of purpose in tackling insecurity.
She insisted that the present administration must move beyond routine condemnations of criminality and implement “a real, structured, coordinated, and enduring process of policing the nation.”
*Tinubu: I Won’t relent, we’ll secure Nigeria *Meets COAS, CAS, DG DSS, IG, others *Directs withdrawal of police officers guarding VIPs for core official duties *Govt must expose those waging war against Nigeria, Olanipekun advises Deji
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