Operatives of the Department of State Services in Niger State have rescued two pastors and a church member who were abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State.
The victims, identified as Rev. Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob and Suleiman Adamu, were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, in the Gwagwada area of Chikun Local Government Area 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 in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said the pastors 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 renewed 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, operatives of the DSS from the Niger and Kaduna State Commands, in a joint operation, also arrested three suspects linked to the abduction.
The suspects were said to be involved in the transportation of arms and ammunition along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.
According to one of the suspects, identified as Kwalo, ammunition was transported through motor parks and rural routes to evade security checkpoints.
He disclosed that a consignment was received at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State and handed over to Kawu, who subsequently transferred it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.
Iro was said to have 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 directed to use specific routes to avoid detection.
Kwalo reportedly received ₦50,000 for collecting the consignment, while Kawu earned ₦5,000 as a middleman and Iro was paid ₦20,000 as courier.
However, Kwalo claimed he was misled into transporting 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 resolve of security agencies to protect 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 maintaining peace and security across the state.
Shuaibu also urged members of the public to support security agencies by reporting suspicious movements, stressing that “security is a collective responsibility that requires the cooperation of all.”
