A total of 183 people abducted during attacks on communities in Kurmin Wali in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have regained their freedom and recounted their ordeal in captivity, community and official sources reported on Friday, February 6, 2026.
The freed victims, mostly women and children, were received at a formal ceremony by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna.
Survivors described being held in the forest for weeks while enduring fear, hunger and harsh conditions before they were freed through a coordinated operation involving the Kaduna State Government, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS).
At the reception ceremony, tears flowed as survivors shared their experiences of the weeks they spent in custody after being abducted by armed assailants during church services in Kurmin Wali.
One of the freed victims said that captives were forced to trek for days into dense forest, subsisted on scant food and unsafe water, and slept beside riverbanks with limited shelter.
Another survivor recounted that captors employed violence to enforce silence, saying children were flogged when they cried, and adults lived in constant fear. Many victims described the ordeal as traumatising and life‑threatening.
Governor Sani described the day as “a day of joy” and acknowledged the efforts of security agencies and government partners in securing the safe return of all abducted residents.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies for their roles in the rescue operation.
The governor confirmed that the full complement of 183 abducted persons had now been freed, noting that of the group, 11 had been released earlier, 83 returned days prior to the ceremony, and 89 were rescued in the most recent effort.
As part of rehabilitation efforts, the state government said the freed victims would undergo medical examinations, psychosocial support and care before reunification with their families, and would receive materials and services to support recovery.
Sani also outlined plans for new security and development measures in Kurmin Wali, including proposals for a military base along the Kajuru–Kachia axis, construction of access roads, a hospital and a skills acquisition centre.
Leaders from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State and community elders also welcomed the safe return of the abducted residents. CAN Chairman Rev.
Joseph Hayab commended the governor for his leadership and thanked security agencies for their roles in ensuring the victims’ safe release.
The association pledged continued cooperation with authorities to safeguard places of worship and communities across northern Nigeria.
The mass abduction in Kurmin Wali occurred on January 18, 2026, when gunmen attacked villages and seized scores of worshippers during church services.
The incident prompted urgent mobilisation by security forces and widespread concern from national and local stakeholders, highlighting ongoing challenges posed by armed group violence in the region.
