News
38 Abducted Kwara Church Worshippers Have Regained Freedom — Gov AbdulRazaq
The Kwara State Government has announced the release of the 38 worshippers who were abducted by bandits from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the worshippers were released on Sunday.
The statement, however, did not disclose how the abductees regained their freedom.
“After many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq 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 State,” it partly read.
The state government attributed the rescue of the victims to the “hands-on approach” of President Bola Tinubu, who, it said, “personally led the efforts” to free the abductees.
“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 well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole,” the statement disclosed.
The governor also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police for their efforts.
“The governor also thanks members of the security forces across board, thought leaders, religious institutions, and all Kwarans for their support and goodwill since the unfortunate incident,” the statement added.
Deadly Attack
Gunmen had last Tuesday launched an attack at the parish, 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,” forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
“They came around nightfall and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken,” one resident said.
The bandits had demanded ₦3 billion for the release of the victims, but later reduced the ransom to ₦760 million.
Protest
Irked by the attack, youths in the community staged a protest.
The protesters, who blocked the Ilorin–Kabba highway at the entrance of the town, causing heavy traffic disruption, alleged that last Tuesday’s attack, which lasted close to an hour, occurred without any response from security operatives stationed 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 briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on the church worshippers.
He also directed the police to go after the bandits who attacked worshippers.
First Service
The church held its first service on Sunday, where it clarified the actual number of victims abducted.
The Church Secretary, Michael Agbabiaka, said that despite fear and trauma, church leaders encouraged members to attend the service as a show of faith and resilience.
“As you can see, only a few people are present, but we thank God for life and for strengthening us.
“We also appreciate the government for deploying security operatives who are now patrolling the town and the church,” he added.
In his sermon, the presiding pastor, Bamidele Lawrence, described the incident as a test of faith and told the congregation that God promised that the abducted worshippers would return alive, likening their situation to the biblical trials of the Israelites.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has finally given reasons why he left his party citing the ongoing legal dispute and crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the primary reason for his defection from the party.
Recall the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mallam Mani Mummuni, announced the formal defection on Monday after a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, described the defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a necessary step for the greater good.
The statement noted that joining the APC was a decision made by stakeholders in Zamfara State amid ongoing legal challenges faced by the Peoples Democratic Party.
The statement read in part, “Yesterday, Governor Dauda Lawal officially decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a decision reached and endorsed by all relevant stakeholders in Zamfara State.
“Governor Dauda Lawal has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party. He has worked diligently to facilitate reconciliation among the party’s factions, ensuring it remains unified and can field candidates for upcoming elections.
“Efforts to achieve peace, reconciliation, and out-of-court settlements have proven difficult, leading to a series of legal battles that may have future implications, particularly for leaders contesting elections in 2027.
“Governor Lawal was the last man standing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who stood firm until the very end, which was marked by yesterday’s Appeal Court judgment.
He was the only governor seeking a second term who chose to stay, hoping that the party leaders would demonstrate decorum and take appropriate action.
“In a recent series of meetings that lasted for weeks, Governor Lawal had informed stakeholders that he acknowledged their request to transition to the APC, but he would decide after the Appeal Court judgment.
“The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the October 31 judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the national convention which held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
“The appellate judgment ended Governor Dauda Lawal’s stay in the Peoples Democratic Party, prioritising the interests of Zamfara State. He joined the All Progressives Congress to sustain the Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild mission.”
The price of oil has dropped sharply after US President Donald Trump said that the war in Iran would come to an end “very soon”.
Oil had reached almost $120 a barrel on Monday over fears that the conflict would cause lengthy disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East, but dropped back to around $93 following Trump’s comments.
Although crude prices are still significantly higher than they were before the war, stock markets rose on Wall Street and in Asia.
The president said he thought “the war is very complete, pretty much”, although he later warned Iran to not block the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route crucial to global oil and gas supplies.
“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” he said on social media.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said “in response to Trump’s nonsense”, that Iran”s armed forces will “not allow the export of a single liter of oil from the region”.
Earlier on Monday, Trump told a news conference in Florida: “We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil. Then, I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion.”
During trading in Asia, Brent crude fell below $84 a barrel at one point before rebounding to $93.76.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 4% to $90.96 a barrel.
The fall in oil prices on Tuesday has given traders a moment to “exhale”, but energy markets remain in a state of “total tug-of-war”, said Alberto Bellorin from oil and gas investment firm InterCapital Energy.
Oil trading will “remain incredibly twitchy” and prices are likely to spike if the conflict escalates and fall if it seems to be easing, he said.
Share prices in Asia made gains as concerns about the economic impact of he conflict eased.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 2.9%, recovering some of Monday’s losses, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 5.4%.
Stock markets in the region had been hit hard the previous day on investor concerns that disruptions in the Gulf could mean higher inflation and rising interest rates.
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial to the global energy market as around a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the narrow waterway.
While the price of oil has fallen from Monday’s peak it is still around 20% higher than it was before the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran just over a week ago, said Park Kee Hyun from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Prices will remain “volatile” as the firms will charge a premium for shipments to account for any risk of the situation worsening, Park said.
Trump’s comments may suggest the war may end soon, but the bigger question is whether those remarks are followed by concrete changes in the conflict zone, he added.
G7 nations on Monday said they were ready to take “necessary measures” to address the global supply of energy in the light of surging oil prices.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has adjourn plenary to Wednesday March 11, 2026, upon resumption from its recess to attend to the 2026 budget.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that the House has adjourned plenary two weeks ago to enable lawmakers to hold budget defence sessions for the Ministries Department and Agencies to reconvene today March 10,2026.
But during its recess the Nigerian Senate had lost Senator Baribada Mpigu, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly.
Until his death, Late Mpigi was also the chairman senate committee on Works which oversees federal road infrastructure and related projects across the country.
The House also mourns Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker House of Representatives (Legislative), Mr Chamberlain Nnamdi Dunku, who passed in the early houses of Saturday, March 7, 2026.
According to the tradition of the House when any member of the National Assembly dies, plenary was adjourned till tomorrow March 11, 2026.
The Leader of the House, Rep. Julius Ihonbvere, moved a motion that the House adjourns plenary mad it was seconded by The Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda.
The Speaker thereafter put it to a voice vote and the lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion.
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