Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Thursday, welcomed worshippers who were recently freed after being abducted from three churches in the Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru Local Government Area.
The victims were brought to the Government House at about 1 p.m., arriving in a convoy of buses escorted by operatives of the Department of State Services.
A video shared by Arise News on its X page showed that the group included children, nursing mothers and elderly people.
Many of the freed captives appeared distressed. Some walked with difficulty, while others broke down in tears. The images reflected the harsh conditions they faced while in captivity.
Governor Sani had earlier assured the Kurmin Wali community that the state was working tirelessly to rescue all abducted residents. During a visit to survivors at the Women and Children Shelter, he expressed deep concern, describing the attack as “an unfortunate and painful incident.”
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending insecurity. “We will leave no stone unturned until every kidnapped person is reunited with their family,” he said.
He also commended security agencies for their efforts, urging residents to partner with authorities. “Your cooperation is essential to restoring peace in our communities,” he noted.
The mass abduction occurred on January 18, 2026, when armed men stormed three churches during worship, shooting indiscriminately before leading congregants into the surrounding forests.
The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed the release of the abductees in a telephone interview. “I was informed early Tuesday morning that the worshippers had regained their freedom,” he said.
Out of the 177 people initially kidnapped, about 80 were reported to have escaped shortly after the attack, seeking refuge in nearby villages.
