The Federal Government of Nigeria has reacted after rapper Falz publicly questioned why none of the kidnappers responsible for the abduction of 38 worshippers in Kwara State were arrested following their release.
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced via his official social media pages that all 38 victims of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku attack had been rescued.
Recall that on November 18, bandits invaded the CAC Oke Isegun branch in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, during a thanksgiving service held for the safe return of 18 church members previously kidnapped three weeks earlier. The attackers reportedly abducted 38 worshippers, including the pastor, and killed three people during the operation.
The kidnappers later demanded ₦100 million ransom per victim, totaling ₦3.8 billion, a figure that sparked widespread outrage online.
Announcing their release, President Tinubu 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.”
However, the president’s statement angered many Nigerians who argued that “rescue without arrest” does not address the root cause of insecurity. Leading the critique was rapper and activist Falz, who took to X (Twitter) to question the outcome of the operation.
In his post, Falz wrote:
“THIS DOES NOT CUT IT. Where are the abductors?? Were they killed? How many arrests were made???”
His reaction intensified public debate, with many citizens echoing similar concerns about the government’s approach to banditry.
Responding to these questions, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, stated that the kidnappers were not arrested during the negotiation process.
According to him:
“We didn’t arrest the bandits because they came out voluntarily for the peace talk…”
The statement has since fueled further conversation online, as Nigerians question the logic behind allowing armed criminals to walk free simply because they showed up for dialogue. Critics argue that such leniency only emboldens attackers and worsens the cycle of insecurity.
As the debate continues, many are calling on the federal government to clearly outline the terms of the so-called “peace talk,” and explain why heavily armed bandits who killed worshippers were not taken into custody.