The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced the deployment of troops and intelligence resources to secure the safe rescue of worshippers abducted from Kurmin Wali in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In a statement, Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, said the military has noted concerns from affected communities and reiterated that rescuing all kidnapped victims is a top priority.
The operation, conducted in coordination with other security agencies, is focused on intelligence-driven missions in Kurmin Wali and surrounding forest areas identified as potential kidnapper hideouts. These missions include ground patrols, surveillance, and carefully targeted actions designed to free the captives without endangering their lives.
General Onoja explained that the deliberate caution and restraint observed during some operations are intentional, aimed at preventing unintended harm to the hostages. He added that ongoing efforts are focused on dismantling the criminal networks responsible for abductions in the region.
Contradictory Reports and Confirmation
The incident, which occurred last Sunday, saw gunmen attack three churches in Kurmin Wali and abduct approximately 167 worshippers.
The Kaduna State Police Command initially dismissed the reports on Monday, attributing them to “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to disrupt the state's peace. However, on Tuesday, the Nigeria Police Force publicly confirmed the abduction through its National Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin.
Hundeyin clarified that the earlier statements from the Kaduna police were meant to prevent public panic while official verification was underway and were not an attempt to deny the event.
The handling of the incident has drawn criticism from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and several opposition political parties.
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