At least 80 worshippers who escaped abduction during a bandit attack on Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have returned to their homes, two weeks after fleeing to neighboring communities.
The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed the development to newsmen saying initial reports that 177 worshippers were kidnapped were later clarified.
“About 80 people managed to escape and took refuge in nearby villages,” Dan’azumi said, adding that 86 worshippers are still in the bandits’ custody.
He appealed to authorities to act swiftly, noting that families of the abducted victims remain traumatized.
“We are appealing to the government and the military to speed up efforts to secure the release of those still in captivity,” he said.
A military source attributed the return of the displaced worshippers to ongoing security operations targeting bandits’ hideouts in Kajuru and surrounding forest areas.
The development comes amid rising insecurity in the area, as bandits on Tuesday attacked Maikori village in Kajuru’s Maro Ward, killing three residents identified as Hassan Agola, Lawal Samson and Baba Apolo.
Confirming police awareness of the incident, Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said:
“The police will issue a comprehensive report on the Kurmin Wali abduction.”
