February 02, (THEWILL) — There was palpable relief in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as 80 worshippers abducted from three churches regained their freedom after escaping from their captors.
However, anxiety remains high as 86 others are still being held in the forest.
The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, disclosed on Sunday, February 1, 2026, that the latest escape followed an earlier breakout in which 11 victims fled shortly after the abduction on January 18.
He explained that the escapees initially took refuge in neighboring communities before eventually returning to their homes to reunite with their families.
Dan’azumi confirmed that a total of 177 worshippers were taken during coordinated attacks on Catholic, Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and Cherubim and Seraphim churches.
“The gunmen reportedly locked church gates before forcing congregants into the bush and later transporting them to a forest location,” he stated.
While welcoming the escape of the 80 victims, the traditional ruler lamented attempts by some individuals to politicize the tragedy, emphasizing that families of those still held are living with deep trauma.
He appealed to the Federal and Kaduna State governments, as well as the military, to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining abductees.
“We are calling on the authorities to restore lasting security to Kurmin Wali and surrounding communities, which have endured persistent bandit attacks,” he added.
The incident has been shrouded in controversy due to conflicting accounts over the scale of the abduction.
The Kaduna State Police Command and the Kajuru Local Government Council had initially dismissed reports of a mass kidnapping.
However, community leaders and church officials stood their ground, eventually producing a list of 177 missing persons at the request of the Commissioner of Police.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the FCT, Rev. John Hayab, had earlier corroborated the community’s claims, stating that more than 160 worshippers were taken.
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, noted that the command is currently conducting investigations and rescue operations.
“The command will issue a comprehensive report on the incident as efforts to secure the remaining victims continue,” he said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
