The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the rescue of seven out of 14 persons abducted during a deadly attack in Kaduna State, following a coordinated security operation.
Police authorities disclosed on Monday that the rescue was carried out through a joint effort involving operatives of the police, the Nigerian Army, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, revealed that the incident occurred on Sunday when armed bandits attacked both the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and a Catholic church in Kachia Local Government Area.
According to him, the assailants opened fire indiscriminately on worshippers, resulting in fatalities and multiple abductions.
“On 5 April 2026, armed bandits attacked ECWA and Catholic Churches in the community, firing indiscriminately.
”Five people were killed, and approximately fourteen others were abducted,” he said.
In response to the attack, the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, ordered the immediate deployment of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Shehu Nadada, to the state.
The deployment, according to the police, was aimed at strengthening on-ground coordination and accelerating efforts to secure the release of the remaining victims.
Placid explained that the senior officer was tasked with assessing the situation firsthand and working closely with other security agencies to restore order in the affected community.
“The DIG Operations was deployed to assess the situation on site and coordinate security efforts to restore order and secure the release of the abducted victims,” he stated.
He added that during the rescue mission, seven of the kidnapped victims were successfully freed by the joint security team. The victims were subsequently taken to a medical facility for treatment.
“They were taken to Katari Hospital for medical care and are in stable condition, awaiting reunion with their families,” the statement added.
The police assured that efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining seven victims still in captivity and to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The police also called on residents to remain vigilant and support security operations by providing timely and credible information that could aid ongoing investigations and rescue efforts.
