Relief as 80 Escaped Worshippers Return to Kurmin Wali After Bandit Ordeal in Kaduna

In a development that has brought some measure of relief to the traumatised community of Kurmin Wali in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, at least 80 worshippers who narrowly escaped abduction during a daring bandit attack have finally returned to their homes after hiding in neighbouring villages for about two weeks.

The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed this in a telephone interview with journalists on Sunday, revealing that the returnees had managed to evade their captors and sought refuge in nearby settlements. According to Dan’azumi, initial reports indicated that around 177 worshippers were abducted when bandits stormed the community during a Sunday worship session on January 18, 2026. However, further investigations showed that 80 of them escaped during the chaos and hid in surrounding communities, leaving 86 others still in the hands of the bandits.

“Some people are trying to politicise our situation even as families are going through serious trauma,” Dan’azumi lamented, appealing to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts for the safe release of the remaining captives. “We are appealing to the government and the military to expedite action to secure the safe return of the remaining 86 people still in the bandits’ camp.”

A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed the safe return of the displaced worshippers to ongoing security operations aimed at flushing out bandits from their hideouts in Kajuru and adjacent forest areas. The source noted that sustained patrols and offensives have created a safer environment, allowing some residents to return home cautiously.

Details on how exactly the 80 worshippers escaped remain sketchy, as do the conditions of those still held captive. Families of the abducted are enduring immense anxiety but hold onto hope amid reports of heightened military presence in the region.

As earlier reported by NaijaChoice News, the bandits invaded Kurmin Wali on the night of January 18, targeting worshippers at three churches, including the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim churches. The attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47 rifles, broke into homes and places of worship, abducting scores and forcing others to flee into the bush. Eleven individuals were said to have escaped immediately while being marched away by the gunmen, but the community was left in shock, with many residents displacing to safer areas.

The return of the 80 escapees comes amid escalating violence in Kajuru LGA. Just last Tuesday, January 27, bandits struck again in the nearby Maikori community in Maro Ward, killing three residents identified as Hassan Agola, Lawal Samson, and Baba Apolo. A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, described the attack as brutal, further heightening tensions in the area.

Community leaders and residents are now calling for a more robust and permanent security deployment to curb the recurring attacks. “We can’t continue living like this; the government must do more to protect us,” one resident told NaijaChoice News.

When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, assured that a comprehensive report on the Kurmin Wali incident would be released soon. “The police will come out with a comprehensive report surrounding the Kurmin Wali abduction,” he stated.

Kajuru Local Government Area has, in recent times, emerged as a major hotspot for banditry in Kaduna State, with frequent attacks resulting in loss of lives, mass displacements, and property destruction. Security experts attribute the surge to the area’s vast forests, which serve as hideouts for criminal elements. Over the years, similar incidents have plagued communities like Kurmin Wali, prompting calls for enhanced intelligence gathering and community policing.