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, Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob, and Suleiman Adamu, were said to have been kidnapped on January 9, 2026, at the Gwagwada area of 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, Chairman of a faction of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said they were safely rescued from the bush by DSS operatives during ongoing security operations in Niger State.
Hayab commended the DSS for the successful operation, saying the rescue of the victims had brought immense relief to the church and the victims’ families.
He added that their safe return had renewed hope that criminal elements could be defeated through sustained and coordinated security efforts.
According to him, insecurity can only be effectively tackled through cooperation among security agencies, faith leaders, and the general public, warning that criminals thrive when communities are divided.
Meanwhile, DSS operatives in Niger and Kaduna State commands, in a joint operation, arrested three suspects linked to the abduction. The suspects were said to be involved in the trafficking of arms and ammunition along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.
One of the suspects, identified as Kwalo, reportedly told investigators that the group transported ammunition through motor parks and rural routes to evade security checkpoints.
He said they received a consignment from a courier at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State and handed it over to one Kawu, who subsequently passed it to 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.
According to the DSS, Kwalo received ₦50,000 for collecting the consignment, Kawu earned ₦5,000 as a middleman, while Iro was paid ₦20,000 as a courier.
The DSS said during During interrogation, Kwalo reportedly claimed he was deceived into handling the consignment, alleging that the sender told him it contained tantalite, a precious stone, concealed in sacks of millet to prevent theft.
Reacting to the rescue and arrests, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said the operation reflected the commitment of the DSS and other security agencies to protecting lives and property.
Shuaibu commended the leadership of the DSS for its sustained efforts and assured residents that the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, remains committed not only to maintaining peace but also to sustaining it.
He urged citizens to support security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities, stressing that security is a shared responsibility and that continued collaboration is critical to curbing criminality across the state.
