The operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have successfully rescued two pastors and a church member that were abducted by suspected bandits while travelling through Kaduna State.
The victims, namely Revs Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob and Suleiman Adamu, were abducted on January 9, 2026, in the Gwagwada area of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The clergies were believed to be on their way through Kugosi to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State to officiate a wedding ceremony when they were kidnapped.
The rescued victims by the DSS were received in Kaduna on Friday by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab.
Rev Hayab acknowledged that the three pastors were safely recovered from the bush by DSS operatives during ongoing security operations in Niger State.
Hayab said the successful rescue brought relief to the families of the victims and the wider Christian community and commended the DSS for what he described as a timely and courageous intervention.
The Northern CAN Chairman noted that the operation had renewed confidence in the fight against criminal activities, saying that the development showed criminals could be defeated through effective coordination among security agencies and cooperation from the public.
In a related development, DSS operatives from the Niger and Kaduna State Commands, have arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping and involved in the movement of arms and ammunition.
The suspects are believed to operate on the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna corridor.
One of the suspects, identified as Kwalo, reportedly told investigators that the group transported ammunition through motor parks and rural routes to avoid security checkpoints, adding that a consignment was received at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State and handed over to another suspect, Kawu, who later transferred it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.
It was further gathered that Iro later transported the consignment from Tegina to Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, where it was allegedly delivered to an unidentified recipient after he was instructed to follow specific routes to evade detection.
Kwalo was said to have received ₦50,000 for collecting the consignment, while Kawu earned ₦5,000 as a middleman and Iro received ₦20,000 as a courier.
However, Kwalo alleged that he was misled into handling the consignment, saying he was told it contained tantalite hidden in sacks of millet to prevent theft.
Speaking on the development, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, SAN, said it was a clear demonstration of the commitment of security agencies to protecting lives and property.
Shuaibu said the operation also underscored the resolve of the DSS and other security agencies to rid communities of criminal elements, adding that the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani, remained committed to sustaining peace and security across the state.
He therefore urged members of the public to support security agencies by reporting suspicious activities, saying that security is a shared responsibility.
