•Survivors receive medical checks at DSS headquarters
•Security agencies abandon traditional raids for intelligence‑led “silent extractions”
In a covert, intelligence-driven operation, a joint team of Nigerian security forces has rescued the remaining 88 worshippers abducted from Kurmin Wali in Kaduna State.
The victims—comprising men, women, and two toddlers—were recovered in the early hours of Thursday from bandit hideouts within the volatile Kajuru–Kachia axis.
The rescue marks the end of a weeks-long ordeal that began on January 18, when gunmen stormed three churches in Kurmin Wali, abducting 167 congregants. While 80 captives were released on February 1, the remaining 88 were held until this latest intervention by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Nigerian Army.
‘No Drama, No Gunfire’
A member of the rescue team, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the mission as a masterclass in “fusion intelligence.” Unlike traditional raids characterized by heavy gunfire, this operation relied on precise timing and psychological pressure.
“There was no shooting, no drama. Everything depended on timing, trust, and pressure,” the operative said. “We had to move quietly through insecure villages, meet the handlers, and wait in the bush until they produced the victims.”
The rescue convoy departed Kaduna city at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday under DSS escort. Navigating narrow, dangerous routes through Kachia and Kajuru Local Government Areas, the team reached the remote villages of Maro and Cibiya.
By 11:00 p.m., the team made contact with “Kachallas”—local intermediaries who facilitate communication between communities and criminal groups.
“There was no time for pleasantries. We told them straight: we are here for the victims. Nothing else,” the source added.
A Tense Standoff
The operation reached a peak of tension when the abductors refused to bring the captives to the primary meeting point, forcing the rescue team to wait in the deep thicket for 90 minutes.
“Those 90 minutes felt like a lifetime,” the operative recalled. “You are in hostile terrain, with no guarantee of what comes next.”
The breakthrough came at 12:45 a.m. Shadows began emerging from the dark—first a woman clutching a child, then a man limping, followed by dozens more. In total silence, 88 people walked out of the bush.
Despite a minor setback when one of the transport vehicles suffered a flat tire in Maro village, the convoy arrived safely at the DSS headquarters in Kaduna at 3:30 a.m. for documentation and medical profiling.
### A Shift in Tactics
Security analysts suggest the success of the Kurmin Wali rescue reflects a significant shift in Nigeria’s counter-kidnapping strategy. The operation blended DSS human intelligence and ONSA strategic oversight with tactical support from the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA) in Kachia.
This “layered coordination” is designed to reduce civilian casualties and prevent kidnappers from “hostage warehousing”—a tactic where bandits scatter victims during loud military assaults.
Kajuru LGA has long been a flashpoint for insecurity. Its dense forests and proximity to Niger State make it an ideal transit route for bandits.
While the rescue is a major victory for the security agencies, it also highlights the disconnect in official reporting; the initial incident had faced denials from some local authorities before the scale of the abduction became public.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the successful recovery.
