Operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) have successfully freed two pastors and a church member who were abducted in Kaduna State earlier this month.
The clergymen Rev. Idi Buhari and Emmanuel Jacob together with Suleiman Adamu, were taken on 9 January 2026 in the Gwagwada area of Chikun Local Government while they were travelling through Kugosi towards Sarkin Pawa in Niger State to officiate at a wedding.
The victims were found alive in the bush by DSS personnel during ongoing security operations in Niger State, the agency confirmed. Upon their return to Kaduna, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, described the rescue as a timely and courageous intervention. He said it had brought great relief to the families and the wider Christian community.
Rev. Hayab added that the successful mission renewed confidence that criminal elements can be overcome through sustained and coordinated security efforts, emphasising that insecurity thrives when communities remain divided and urging stronger cooperation between the public and security agencies.
In a related development, DSS operatives from both the Niger and Kaduna State commands apprehended three suspects believed to be linked to the kidnapping in a joint operation. The individuals are alleged to have been involved in the logistics of transporting arms and ammunition along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna corridor.
During questioning, one suspect, Kwalo, claimed the consignments he helped move were misrepresented to him as tantalite concealed in sacks of millet to avoid theft. According to investigators, he received ₦50,000, while intermediaries Kawu and Iro Malam Iro were reportedly paid ₦5,000 and ₦20,000 respectively as part of the delivery chain.
Reacting to the arrests and rescue, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, praised the DSS and other security agencies for their commitment to safeguarding lives and property. He reiterated the state government’s dedication to not only maintaining peace under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, but also sustaining it, and encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious activity, stressing that security is a collective responsibility.
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