Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
KADUNA, Nigeria — Armed bandits have released the remaining worshippers abducted during a brutal coordinated assault on churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, community leaders and eyewitnesses have confirmed. The development brings a measure of relief to families and residents still reeling from the violence that erupted earlier this week.
The attack occurred on Sunday when heavily armed gunmen stormed three separate churches in Kurmin Wali during worship services. According to multiple local sources, the assailants opened fire to sow panic among worshippers before forcibly abducting scores of congregants and driving them into nearby forested terrain.
Initial reports indicated that at least 177 worshippers were kidnapped in the raid, though the number has varied in different accounts. During the chaotic abduction, approximately 80 captives managed to escape while being led away, finding refuge in neighbouring communities and alerting authorities to the severity of the crisis.
On Thursday, the Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, told PUNCH Online that he had received information early Tuesday indicating that those still being held were freed. He said the released community members were now in the care of the Kaduna State Government, though he declined to provide additional details, explaining he was travelling to Kaduna to meet with the freed worshippers and their families.
Dan’azumi also stated he could not verify whether the release followed the payment of ransom or the provision of motorcycles — commodities that local residents had previously said were among the demands made by the abductors.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev. Ma’aji Caleb, confirmed the release and expressed gratitude for the safe return of the worshippers. He attributed the outcome to unified prayers and the efforts of government stakeholders, stressing that his immediate concern was the well‑being and recovery of those who survived the ordeal rather than the specifics of how the release was secured.
Rev. Caleb also commended Governor Uba Sani for what he described as “a resolute commitment to protecting lives and property” in a region that continues to suffer from periodic attacks by criminal elements.
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, corroborated that the remaining captives had been freed as of Wednesday night, though he noted that the exact number of released worshippers could not yet be verified at the time. A community source likewise reported seeing buses and motorcycles moving toward bush areas late Wednesday, which were believed to have been deployed to convey those who had regained their freedom.
In the aftermath of the kidnapping, security agencies had launched search‑and‑rescue operations across the forests and villages surrounding Kurmin Wali, while local authorities and traditional leaders mobilised support for affected families, offering shelter, food and medical care.
Despite the positive news of the release, the incident has once again underscored the persistent security challenges in Southern Kaduna, particularly in Kajuru LGA, an area long afflicted by banditry, kidnapping and communal violence. Military and police operations have been ongoing in the region for months, with intermittent successes; yet attacks of this scale continue to surface, highlighting the depth and resilience of criminal networks exploiting vulnerable rural corridors.
As of the filing of this report, official statements from the Kaduna State Police Command had not been issued, and efforts to reach the state police spokesperson were unsuccessful. Authorities and community leaders have called for continued vigilance, improved intelligence sharing and enhanced protective measures around places of worship and other civilian gathering points to prevent recurrence of such attacks.
Families of the released worshippers are now focusing on reunion, counselling and addressing the physical and psychological trauma inflicted by the abduction. Local humanitarian groups and faith organisations have also pledged ongoing support, including medical assistance, trauma care and community healing initiatives.
The release brings temporary respite to a community that has endured repeated security shocks, but residents and observers warn that lasting peace and safety in Southern Kaduna will require sustained, coordinated responses from security forces and government at all levels.
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