BREAKING: Over 160 Worshippers Abducted In Kaduna Regain Freedom

As of the time of filing this report, the freed worshippers were being evacuated to the Kaduna State Government House.

More than 160 worshippers abducted by bandits in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have been released.

A competent source with knowledge of the developments surrounding the abduction confirmed to SaharaReporters on Thursday that the victims, who were kidnapped in January 2026, have regained their freedom.

As of the time of filing this report, the freed worshippers were being evacuated to the Kaduna State Government House.

Details surrounding the circumstances of their release remain sketchy, and SaharaReporters is monitoring the situation for further updates.

In January, the terrorists who abducted no fewer than 166 worshippers in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State increased their ransom demand to N250 million and 20 motorcycles.

The attack occurred on January 18, 2026, when gunmen invaded Kurmin Wali village during a religious gathering, abducting men, women and youths indiscriminately.

Residents of Kajuru Local Government Area, located in southern Kaduna, have for years lived under the shadow of banditry and kidnapping, with communities frequently targeted for mass abductions, killings and arson attacks that have displaced hundreds of families.

Many villagers have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety, abandoning farmlands and livelihoods, as security challenges continue to escalate in rural parts of the state.

Community leaders have urged the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to urgently intensify rescue efforts and deploy stronger security measures to prevent further assaults on vulnerable rural communities.

SaharaReporters previously reported that the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State Muhammad Rabiu, visited one of the churches where terrorists abducted worshippers in Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following the attack.

Multiple sources told SaharaReporters that during the visit, the police commissioner, who arrived at the scene with heavily armed security operatives, instructed everyone present to switch off their mobile phones and warned them not to record videos or take photographs throughout the visit.

According to sources, the commissioner also visited the surrounding areas affected by the attack.