Governor Uba Sani has confirmed the safe return of all 183 worshippers abducted from Kajuru churches after a final group was rescued by security forces.
Governor Uba Sani received 172 freed worshippers at the Kaduna State Government House on Thursday, following their release from captivity. The victims, primarily women and children, were abducted on January 18 from three churches in Kurmin Wali. While 83 individuals escaped earlier this week, the final 89 hostages were successfully rescued during the early hours of Thursday morning.
Survivors recounted a harrowing ordeal, describing being fed only “pap made with maize powder” and forced to trek for six days. One female victim noted that captors flogged children and beat men during their time in the forest enclave. “It was a horrible experience; we thank God we returned safely,” she told journalists during the reception in the state capital.
Governor Sani confirmed that all 183 original abductees have now been accounted for, including 11 who escaped initially. He pledged continued support for the victims’ medical and psychological recovery while thanking President Tinubu and security agencies for their intervention. “Today, I can say without contradiction that all those abducted from Kurmin Wali have returned,” the governor stated.