Worshippers kidnapped from churches in Kurmin Wali town in the Kufana axis of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been freed.
The victims were kidnapped during church service in the community on January 18, 2026.
An anonymous community leader said the victims were freed late Thursday., adding that from 11 p.m. to midnight, heavy-duty vehicles came in from a forest around Maro town, and later returned with the abducted persons between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
“We were informed that large vehicles entered the forest, and later, around 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., they came out with the abducted people from the Maro axis. We do not know who went to take them or who released them. We are also not certain whether all of them were freed, but their release has been confirmed,” he said.
It cannot be immediately confirmed if any ransom was paid to secure their freedom or whether the 17 motorcycles demanded by their abductors were given.
The village head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed the release of his kinsmen and thanked the state government and security agencies for securing the return of the victims.
“We also received the information today that they have been released. We are happy and they are currently with the government,” he said, adding that those released included children, women and adults, but declined to give further details.
The Kaduna State Government was yet to make any official statement on the release, just as it was learnt that the freed worshippers were being taken to Government House, Kaduna, for debriefing.
