Kaduna community leader confirms return of 80 abducted worshippers

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Ishaku Danazumi, the village head of Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has confirmed that 80 among the over 160 people abducted by bandits in the community on January 18th, 2026, have returned home.

The over 160 people were abducted by gunmen during a church service at the community.

Danazumi said that the 80 people had escaped when the gunmen stormed the churches to abduct worshippers.

He said they returned hale and hearty to the community about two weeks after the incident

However, Danazumi said the kidnappers are still holding 86 worshippers..

Dan’azumi said the 80 victims who escaped did so on the same day of the incident.

He said they were unable to return immediately as they lost their way in the forest.

“We have now confirmed that 80 of our people have been found in different locations. They ran through the forest and hid because of fear on the very day of the incident,” he said.

Dan’azumi saod one of the victims contacted the community and disclosed their location, prompting the mobilisation of a team to trace them a few days ago.

“One of them called and told us where they were. We sent people there and confirmed their whereabouts,” he said.

“They were afraid because they thought what happened to a nearby village, where bandits burnt down the entire community, had happened to us. That was why they did not reach out immediately.”

He said a headcount conducted on Friday confirmed that 80 victims were found in different forest settlements.

The village head said search teams have also been deployed to other forest locations to ascertain whether more victims are still in hiding.

This revelation followed call by Southern Kaduna leaders at a prayer summit over the weekend that Churches and Mosques in the area should defend themselves against attacks

The Southern Kaduna prayer summit is convened annually by the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA).

Speaking at the event in Kafanchan, Apostle Emmanuel Kure, SKCLA Chairman, explained that worship centres were sacred places that must be protected.

According to him, Churches must complement government’s efforts by putting robust security measures in place to safeguard their premises.

“We must take immediate steps and not create an environment for this kind of thing to reoccur.

“We are calling upon all Churches and Mosques alike to rise up and do the needful to secure their places of worship.

“The youths organisations in our worship centres must come together to protect these places so that we can prevent what happened in Kajuru,” he added.

Kure called on the government to intensify efforts to secure the quick release of the abducted Kajuru worshippers.

He tasked the Southern Kaduna elites on the need to establish industries that would provide employment to the teeming youths in the area.

In his goodwill message, Daniel Amos, the member representing Jema’a and Sanga Federal Constituency, described Southern Kaduna as a rich land with immense potentials.

Amos urged Christians and religious leaders in Southern Kaduna to deepen their prayers for Nigeria’s peace, stability and development, especially as the country approaches another election year.