Eighty worshippers abducted during a mass kidnapping in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have escaped from their captors, while 86 others remain in captivity, local officials and community leaders said on Tuesday.
The victims were among a large group seized last week when armed bandits stormed a religious gathering in the rural Kajuru axis, an area that has witnessed repeated attacks linked to banditry and mass abductions. Survivors said the escape occurred in batches, as captives took advantage of reduced surveillance while being moved through forested terrain.
Kaduna State security officials confirmed the development, saying the escapees, mostly women and children, managed to flee after their captors were distracted. Many trekked for hours through the bush before reaching nearby communities, where they were assisted by residents and local authorities.
“They came out exhausted, traumatized, and dehydrated,” a community leader said. “Some had injuries from the journey, but they are grateful to be alive.”
Despite the breakthrough, authorities said 86 worshippers remain with the kidnappers, raising fresh concerns for their safety. Security agencies have intensified search-and-rescue operations, deploying troops and surveillance assets to track the kidnappers’ movements.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining captives, adding that negotiations, intelligence operations, and pressure on the kidnappers were being pursued simultaneously.
“We will not abandon those still in captivity,” the commissioner said. “Our priority is to bring everyone home safely.”
The Kajuru attack is the latest in a string of mass kidnappings targeting villages, schools, and places of worship across northern Nigeria. Armed groups, often motivated by ransom, have increasingly focused on large gatherings in remote areas where security presence is thin.
Residents say repeated attacks have left communities living in fear and disrupted religious, economic, and social life. Some churches and mosques in the area have reportedly scaled back activities or increased local vigilante patrols.
Civil society groups and religious leaders have renewed calls for stronger security measures, including improved intelligence, better rural patrols, and faster emergency response.
“What happened in Kajuru shows how vulnerable our communities remain,” a Kaduna-based rights advocate said. “Escapes are fortunate, but prevention is what will save lives.”
The Kaduna State Government has urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies, while providing medical and psychological support to the escapees.
As operations continue, families of those still held are anxiously awaiting news, hoping that the escape of 80 worshippers will accelerate efforts to free the remaining captives and bring an end to yet another traumatic episode of mass abduction in the region.
