Nigeria: A 33-member gang arrested after kidnappings in churches

Nigeria has announced the arrest of 33 members of a gang involved in a series of kidnappings, including a major attack on a church in Kwara State.

According to police, this group was responsible for the November 18 attack on an Apostolic Church of Christ in the city of Eruku, during which 38 people were abducted. The attack deeply shocked the country and reignited concerns about rising insecurity.

Federal police spokesman Anthony Okon Placid said the suspects were arrested in coordinated raids in Kwara and Kogi states, thanks to human and technical intelligence.

Authorities also accuse this gang of being involved in other criminal activities, including kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, and armed robberies in the area.

These arrests are part of a larger operation launched by the security forces, which has led to the arrest of around fifty suspects since the beginning of the year.

Nigeria continues to face persistent insecurity, marked by a rise in mass kidnappings and attacks by armed groups. The Eruku case, in particular, intensified the pressure on the authorities, who were called upon to strengthen their response to this violence.

Despite these advances, the fight against banditry and criminal groups remains a major challenge for the country, where security remains a central concern for the population.