The village head of Kurmin Wali in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Ishaku Dan’azumi, has confirmed that 80 worshippers abducted during recent church attacks have escaped, while 86 others are still being held by their captors.
Gunmen had stormed three churches in Kajuru in January, abducting about 177 worshippers. At the time of the attack, 11 victims were reported to have escaped while being taken away.
Providing an update, Dan’azumi said the additional 80 victims managed to flee on the same day of the abduction but lost their way in the forest and were unable to return home immediately.
“They ran into the forest and hid out of fear on the very day of the incident, he said. We have now confirmed that 80 of our people were found in different locations.”
He explained that contact with the escapees was only re-established days later after one of them managed to place a call, revealing their whereabouts. This prompted the community to organize search efforts to locate the others.
According to Dan’azumi, the escapees initially believed Kurmin Wali had been attacked and burnt, similar to a nearby village allegedly destroyed by bandits.
This fear, he said, kept them in hiding and prevented earlier communication.
A headcount conducted on Friday confirmed that the 80 individuals were scattered across various forest settlements.
Dan’azumi said search teams have since been deployed to surrounding areas to determine whether more victims are still hiding.
He added that security authorities have been formally informed of the development, although many of the escapees remain reluctant to return to the community due to lingering fear.
The government has been informed that 80 people have been found, he said. They want us to gather them together, but fear is still stopping many of them from returning. However, we have confirmed their locations.
