Dozens of residents abducted during coordinated attacks on three churches in the Kurmin Wali area of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State have returned home after a period in captivity or hiding, according to police and community reports.
Authorities say 80 of those earlier believed to have been taken by gunmen have come back to their communities and are undergoing verification and health checks by the Kaduna State Police Command.
The abductions occurred during a spate of violence in the area, with gunmen storming worship services and seizing dozens of congregants.
Police spokesperson Mansur Hassan confirmed that the 80 individuals recently returned “after fleeing to nearby villages” and subsequently felt safe enough to come home.
Officials said the returning residents were taken to the Kaduna State Police Headquarters for identity verification and medical screening before being reunited with their families.
The development followed earlier reports of the abduction of 177 worshippers, a figure widely circulated after the armed attack on the community.
Despite the return of these 80 residents, not all abducted individuals have been accounted for, and security agencies continue efforts to locate and free those still in captivity.
State and local authorities have reiterated their commitment to sustained operations against kidnapping and banditry in the region, where armed group attacks on villages and places of worship have prompted ongoing security responses.
The release and return of abducted residents have brought relief to families and communities in Kurmin Wali and surrounding areas, many of whom had endured weeks of anxiety and uncertainty following the incident.
