Bandits march 177 Karuna kidnapped worshippers through forest, says village Head 

Bandits who abducted 177 Christian worshippers from the Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been sighted moving their captives on foot through bush paths within the council area, raising fresh fears over the safety of the victims.

Ishaku Dan’azumi, Village Head of Kurmin Wali,  disclosed on Thursday that the abductors were seen earlier in the day trekking with the worshippers between Ungwan Gamu and Maro communities. He said their exact destination could not be confirmed.

Dan’azumi told newsmen that the movement of the captives followed threats allegedly issued by the bandits on Wednesday evening after they noticed the presence of security operatives in the area.

Read also: Kurmin Wali: The audacity of bandits attacks embarrassing Atiku 

“They called us yesterday evening and threatened the community, accusing us of bringing soldiers. They said we were claiming to have ‘big people’ backing us because of the military presence”,  the traditional ruler said.

According to him, community leaders denied any involvement in the deployment of soldiers and explained that they neither invited the military nor had any influential individuals backing them.

“We explained to them that we don’t have anybody and that we did not invite the soldiers. After that conversation, they ended the call, and we have not heard from them again,” Dan’azumi said.

He added that residents later received information on Thursday morning that the bandits and their captives had been sighted moving through the bushes.

“This morning, we were told that they were seen moving on foot with our people between Ungwan Gamu and Maro, but we do not know exactly where they are heading,” he said.

The village head expressed deep concern over the safety and well-being of the abducted worshippers and appealed to security agencies to intensify surveillance and rescue operations to secure their freedom.

Kurmin Wali, Ungwan Gamu and Maro are rural communities in Kajuru Local Government Area, one of the flashpoints of banditry and kidnapping in Southern Kaduna.

The area is marked by vast forests and difficult terrain, which armed groups have exploited over the years to establish hideouts and launch attacks on rural settlements.

Residents of Kajuru have endured repeated incidents of mass abductions, killings and the destruction of farmlands, forcing many villagers to flee their homes at different times due to persistent insecurity.

Despite sustained military operations in parts of Southern Kaduna, bandits have continued to carry out attacks, often targeting places of worship, farmlands and highways.

Read also: Defence minister Christopher Musa warns states against negotiating with bandits

The 177 worshippers were abducted on Sunday during church services in Kurmin Wali community.

Community sources said the abductors had earlier contacted local leaders, demanding the return of 17 motorcycles allegedly lost during recent military operations in the area as a condition for releasing the victims.