At least 80 worshippers who escaped abduction during a bandit attack on Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State have returned home after spending about two weeks seeking refuge in neighbouring villages.
The village head, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed the development to PUNCH Online on Sunday. He said that while approximately 177 worshippers were initially believed to have been abducted during the attack, 80 managed to escape, leaving 86 individuals still in captivity.
Dan’azumi urged the government and military to expedite actions to secure the safe return of the remaining captives, while also cautioning against politicising the traumatic situation. “Families are going through serious trauma, and we appeal for urgent intervention to rescue the remaining worshippers,” he said.
A military source, speaking anonymously, attributed the return of the displaced residents to intensified security operations targeting bandits’ hideouts across Kajuru and adjoining forest corridors. Details on how the 80 worshippers escaped remain sketchy, as do the circumstances of those still held captive.
The latest developments come amid renewed violence in the area, with bandits attacking Maikori community in Maro Ward on Tuesday, killing three residents identified as Hassan Agola, Lawal Samson, and Baba Apolo.
Kurmin Wali was attacked on a Sunday night during a worship session, forcing many residents to flee. Families of the abducted remain anxious but hopeful, as military patrols and operations continue to secure the area.
Kaduna State Police confirmed that a comprehensive report on the Kurmin Wali abduction will soon be released. Kajuru Local Government Area remains a flashpoint of banditry, with repeated attacks over the years resulting in deaths, displacement, and destruction of property.
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