177 church worshippers abducted in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, freed and taken into government custody

Worshippers abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kufana axis of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have regained their freedom after weeks in captivity.

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The victims were kidnapped on January 18, 2026, when gunmen stormed church services, whisking away at least 177 people, including men, women, and children, into the forest. The attack sparked widespread outrage across the state.

Reports indicated that the victims were released late Wednesday night, with heavy-duty vehicles seen entering and leaving a forest around Maro town between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Community leaders confirmed the freed worshippers were brought out in the early hours of Friday. However, it remains unclear who facilitated the release or whether any ransom was paid.

The village head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed that the freed victims are currently in government custody.

A security source also corroborated the release, noting that the victims were taken to Government House in Kaduna for debriefing.

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As of this report, the Kaduna State Government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.