KADUNA—Survivors of the mass kidnapping in Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have described their terrifying three-week ordeal at the hands of bandits, including starvation, beatings, threats, and nights spent in the open bush prior to their eventual release.
On January 18, 2026, worshippers were abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali town in the Kufana axis of Kajuru Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
Following their reception by Governor Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna yesterday, the victims addressed in separate interviews with journalists. They thanked him for their release and prayed that no one would ever experience such an ordeal.
The abductees were only fed four times throughout their imprisonment, according to a female survivor who asked to remain anonymous while speaking while carrying her infant.
“I’m not sure if payment was made prior to our release. “The rest is history; they just asked us to stand up,” she remarked.
Only four times did they feed us with uncooked corn flour. To get food in our stomach, we combined it with water. She continued, “We slept outside and were always relieved when the wind blew because it helped keep mosquitoes away.”
She claims that the kidnappers confiscated their phones and threatened them nonstop, fostering a climate of anxiety and unpredictability.
“When they flogged my husband and other men, it was my worst experience.” She expressed her gratitude to God for her liberation, saying, “I feared for their lives, but I thank God that we were rescued alive.”
Another survivor, a man who also asked to remain anonymous, expressed gratitude to the military, the Kaduna State Government, and other security organizations for ensuring their release.
“The authorities’ promises of increased security presence, better roads, and other infrastructure in our community are reassuring, even though we truly suffered in captivity,” he stated.
Leaders of the state’s Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and elders from the Kurmin Wali community also sent goodwill messages to the rescued victims.
Although 11 of the kidnapped individuals were previously admitted to the hospital for medical care, all of them have now been liberated.
Speaking to the victims, Governor Uba Sani emphasized that security is still his administration’s top priority and called the event a day of gratitude and joy.
“We immediately mobilized all security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the safe return of our people when this unfortunate incident occurred,” the governor stated.
Along with the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Police, and other security agencies participating in the rescue effort, he also praised Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Advisor, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their assistance.
“Even one kidnapping is intolerable to us. We declined to politicize the matter for this reason. Our goal was to make sure everyone got back safely,” Sani said.
The governor provided a breakdown of the numbers, stating that 183 people were first kidnapped. Eighty-three were freed days ago, eleven were freed earlier and sent to the hospital, and the remaining eighty-nine were saved on Wednesday.
“The total number is 183, and if even one person was still missing, we wouldn’t be sitting here,” he continued.
According to Sani, President Tinubu has promised to fulfill the state government’s proposal to create a military facility near the Regina area along the Kaduna–Abuja route, specifically along the Kajuru–Kachia axis.
The governor stated that the state government will help the rescued victims reestablish their livelihoods and that they will receive psychosocial support and physical checks before returning home.
