Saturday, January 17, 2026 - Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Niger State have rescued two ECWA pastors and a church member abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State.
The victims, Rev. Idi Buhari, Rev. Emmanuel Jacob, and
Suleiman Adamu, were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, at the Gwagwada area of
Chikun Local Government Area while travelling through Kugosi to Sarkin Pawa in
Niger State to officiate a wedding ceremony.
Receiving the rescued pastors, Chairman of the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital
Territory, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said the victims were safely rescued from
the bush by DSS operatives during ongoing security operations in Niger State.
Hayab commended the DSS for what he described as courageous,
timely, and selfless service to the nation, noting that the successful rescue
brought immense relief to the church and families of the victims.
He said the safe return of the abducted pastors had renewed
hope that criminal elements could be defeated through sustained and coordinated
security efforts.
The CAN chairman noted that insecurity could only be
effectively tackled through cooperation among security agencies, faith leaders,
and the general public, warning that criminals thrive when communities are
divided.
Meanwhile, DSS operatives of the Niger and Kaduna State
Command, in a joint operation, also arrested three suspects linked to the
incident.
The suspects are also involved in arms and ammunition
courier, and they operate along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.
According to one of the suspects, Kwalo, they transport the
ammunition through motor parks and rural routes to evade security checkpoints.
He said they received a consignment from a courier at Tegina
Motor Park in Niger State and handed it over to Kawu, who subsequently passed
it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.
Iro was said to have conveyed the ammunition from Tegina to
Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, where it was allegedly delivered
to an unidentified recipient after he was directed to use specific routes to
avoid detection.
Kwalo received N50,000 for collecting the consignment, Kawu
earned N5,000 as a middleman, while Iro was paid N20,000 as a courier.
During interrogation, Kwalo claimed he was deceived into
handling the consignment, alleging that the sender told him it contained
tantalite, a precious stone, concealed in sacks of millet to prevent theft.
Reacting to the arrests and rescue of the abducted pastors,
the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule
Shuaibu (SAN), said the operation reflected the commitment of the DSS and other
security agencies to protecting lives and property.
Shuaibu commended the DSS leadership for its sustained
efforts, assuring residents that the Kaduna State Government, under Governor
Uba Sani, remains committed not only to maintaining peace but to sustaining it.
He urged citizens to support security agencies by promptly
reporting suspicious activities, stressing that security is a shared
responsibility and that continued collaboration is critical to curbing
criminality across the state.
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