By Ladidi Sabo
The worshippers had gathered in quiet devotion when the gunfire shattered the evening.
Within minutes, a routine church service in Kurmin Wali, a community in Kaduna State’s Kajuru Local Government Area, descended into chaos as armed bandits stormed the village, firing sporadically and forcing terrified congregants to flee. By the time the attackers disappeared into the surrounding forest, 183 people — mostly women and children — had been taken.
Weeks later, when the survivors finally emerged from captivity, they carried stories that now illuminate a broader national emergency: Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and the growing vulnerability of rural communities.
At the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House on Thursday, grief mingled with relief as the rescued victims were formally received by Governor Uba Sani. Some wept openly. Others spoke with the detached calm often associated with trauma.
For many, survival itself felt improbable.
“We thought we were going to die there,” one survivor said, voice breaking. “We had lost hope completely.”
Marched Into the Wilderness
According to multiple accounts, the abductees were forced to trek for nearly a week immediately after the January 18 attack.
“We trekked for six days into the forest,” one victim recalled. “They kept us by a riverbank and fed us pap made from maize.”
Food was scarce. Clean water was almost non-existent. Hygiene collapsed under the weight of exhaustion.
“We slept outside. Some of us did not bathe for about two weeks,” the survivor added.
But physical deprivation was only part of the ordeal.
Children in Terror
Several survivors described a regime of fear enforced through violence — one in which even the cries of hungry children carried consequences.
“They flogged us, including our children, especially whenever the children cried,” another victim said. “Sometimes the children cried out of hunger and fear.”
Soon, silence became a survival tactic.
“We were always afraid. Once a child started crying, everyone became scared because we knew what would follow,” a survivor explained.
Rescue — and Raw Emotion
Authorities say the victims were freed through a coordinated operation involving the Kaduna State Government, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and the police.
Governor Sani confirmed that every abductee had now been accounted for.
“Initially, 183 people were taken. Eleven were released earlier and hospitalised. Eighty-three returned a few days ago, while 89 were rescued just yesterday,” he said.
“We would not be sitting here if even one person were still missing.”
At the reception, one emotional survivor described the governor as a source of hope during the darkest days of captivity.
“You gave us hope when we had none. You are the father to the fatherless,” the victim said, drawing applause from the audience before offering a prayer for Sani’s political future.
Yet beneath the ceremony’s relief lay an unmistakable truth: this was not an isolated incident.
A Nation on Edge
Mass abductions have increasingly become a grim feature of Nigeria’s security landscape, particularly across the north, where bandits and extremist groups frequently target villages, schools and highways.
Security analysts warn that such attacks are evolving — often characterised by large-scale kidnappings, prolonged negotiations and deep incursions into forest territories that remain difficult for authorities to police.
The Kurmin Wali abduction briefly generated confusion over the number of victims before officials confirmed that 183 people had indeed been taken — a figure that underscores the scale and coordination of modern bandit operations.
For residents in vulnerable regions, the psychological impact is profound: worship, travel, and even farming now carry calculations of risk.
Government Promises — and Pressure
Governor Sani insisted his administration refused to politicize the crisis, focusing instead on securing the victims’ release.
“For us in Kaduna State, even one person abducted is unacceptable,” he said.
The governor announced new measures aimed at preventing future attacks, including plans for a military base along the Kajuru–Kachia corridor, as well as a new road, hospital and skills acquisition centre.
“This is the Kaduna model — working quietly with community leaders, religious leaders and security agencies at the grassroots,” Sani said.
The freed victims are currently receiving medical care, trauma counselling and relief materials, with officials pledging long-term rehabilitation.
Church Leaders Welcome Rescue
The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described the victims’ release as a moment of collective relief.
“We rejoice with the church and the people of Kurmin Wali,” said Northern CAN Chairman Rev. Joseph Hayab, who praised the governor’s leadership and the collaboration among security agencies.
Still, religious leaders and community advocates continue to urge stronger preventive strategies, warning that rescue operations — while critical — cannot substitute for durable security.
Beyond Survival
Experts say the long-term consequences of mass kidnappings often linger well after victims return home. Trauma, disrupted education, lost livelihoods, and community-wide fear can reshape entire regions.
For the Kurmin Wali survivors, freedom marks the beginning of another journey — one toward psychological healing and social reintegration.
But their testimonies also serve as a stark reminder of the stakes in Nigeria’s security battle.
In parts of the country, the distance between an ordinary day and a life-altering catastrophe can be measured in minutes.
As one survivor quietly put it:
“We are alive — but we will never forget what we saw in that forest.”
And for a nation grappling with persistent violence, forgetting is not an option.
