Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have rescued two pastors and a church member who were abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State, following coordinated security operations in neighbouring Niger State.
The victims, Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob and Suleiman Adamu—were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, in the Gwagwada area of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State while travelling through Kugosi en route to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State to officiate a wedding ceremony.
The rescued victims were received by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Joseph Hayab, who confirmed they were safely recovered from the bush by DSS operatives.
He praised the agency for what he described as a timely and courageous operation that brought relief to the victims’ families and the wider Christian community.
Hayab said the successful rescue reinforced the need for sustained collaboration among security agencies, religious leaders and local communities, warning that insecurity thrives where cooperation is weak.
In a related development, DSS operatives from the Niger and Kaduna State commands also arrested three suspects linked to the abduction.
The suspects are believed to be part of an arms and ammunition trafficking network operating across 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 remote routes to evade security checkpoints.
He said a consignment collected at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State was passed through intermediaries before being delivered to Katsina State.
According to the DSS, Kwalo received N50,000 for collecting the consignment, while two other suspects earned smaller sums for their roles as middlemen and couriers.
Kwalo claimed he was misled into believing the cargo contained tantalite hidden in sacks of millet.
Reacting to the development, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), commended the DSS for its professionalism and commitment to public safety.
He assured residents that the state government remains resolute in sustaining peace and urged citizens to support security agencies by reporting suspicious activities promptly.
The operation underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat kidnapping and arms trafficking across northern Nigeria.
