Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Niger State have rescued two pastors and a church member who were abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State.
The victims—Rev. Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob, and Suleiman Adamu—were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, at Gwagwada in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State while travelling through Kugosi to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State to officiate a wedding ceremony.
Receiving the rescued victims in Kaduna on Friday, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, confirmed that they were safely rescued from the bush by DSS operatives during ongoing security operations in Niger State.
“They were rescued alive from the bush by operatives of the DSS. This intervention has brought tremendous relief to the church, their families, and the Christian community at large,” Hayab said.
He commended the DSS for what he described as a courageous and timely operation, noting that the successful rescue had rekindled hope in the fight against criminality.
“This rescue shows that these criminals can be defeated if our security agencies remain coordinated and the people cooperate. Criminals thrive where communities are divided,” he added.
Meanwhile, DSS operatives from the Niger and Kaduna State Commands, in a joint operation, also arrested three suspects linked to the incident. The suspects were identified as arms and ammunition couriers operating along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.
One of the suspects, Kwalo, disclosed that the group transported ammunition through motor parks and rural routes to evade security checkpoints. He said a consignment was received at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State and handed over to Kawu, who later transferred it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.
According to him, Iro 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 instructed to use specific routes to avoid detection.
Kwalo reportedly received ₦50,000 for collecting the consignment, Kawu earned ₦5,000 as a middleman, while Iro was paid ₦20,000 as a courier.
However, Kwalo claimed he was deceived into handling the consignment.
“I was told that what I was carrying was tantalite, a precious stone, hidden inside sacks of millet to prevent theft,” he said during interrogation.
Reacting to the development, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), described the operation as evidence of the security agencies’ commitment to protecting lives and property.
“This operation reflects the resolve of the DSS and other security agencies to rid our communities of criminal elements,” Shuaibu said.
He assured residents that the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani remained committed to sustaining peace and security across the state, urging the public to support security agencies by reporting suspicious movements.
“Security is a collective responsibility that requires the cooperation of all,” he added.
Elijah Adeyemi
