BREAKING: 13 Kidnapped Cross Riverians Regain Freedom After 14 Days in Captivity
The victims were kidnapped while en route to the International Women Conference organised by the Holiness Revival Movement World-Wide, scheduled to hold between April 29 and May 1, 2026, in Kwali, Abuja. They were reportedly released on Friday, May 8, after millions of naira were paid as ransom.
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Thirteen Cross Riverians who were abducted while travelling to Abuja have regained their freedom after spending 14 days in captivity, following the payment of ransom to their abductors.
The victims were kidnapped while en route to the International Women Conference organised by the Holiness Revival Movement World-Wide, scheduled to hold between April 29 and May 1, 2026, in Kwali, Abuja. They were reportedly released on Friday, May 8, after millions of naira were paid as ransom.
Following their release, the freed travellers were immediately taken to Holistic Hospital in Kwali, within the church’s international headquarters, where they underwent urgent medical and psychological evaluation to assess their condition after the traumatic experience.
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Church officials later organised a special thanksgiving session in their honour, where prayers and praises were offered in appreciation of their safe return despite the ordeal.
According to arrangements announced by organisers, the survivors are expected to arrive in Calabar on Monday, May 11, via the Margaret Ekpo International Airport. Their arrival will be met by family members, church members, sympathisers, and members of the public who are expected to gather in large numbers to welcome them home.
From the airport, the victims and their entourage will proceed to the College of Health Technology Auditorium in Calabar, where a grand thanksgiving service has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
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The event is expected to attract religious leaders, government officials, community stakeholders, humanitarian organisations, and members of the public who have followed the incident since news of the abduction first emerged. Organisers have also extended invitations to media houses across Cross River State and beyond to cover the event.
The abduction of the 13 travellers had sparked widespread concern, prayers, and calls for their release across Cross River State and within the Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide community. Their eventual freedom has since brought relief and celebration to their families and supporters.
Residents have been encouraged to turn out en masse for the thanksgiving and reception programme as the state celebrates the safe return of the survivors and gives thanks for what many have described as divine preservation.
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