No fewer than 80 worshippers who escaped during a bandit attack on Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have returned to their homes after spending about two weeks in hiding.
The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed the development in a telephone interview on Sunday, saying the returnees had taken refuge in neighbouring communities following the attack.
Dan’azumi said about 177 worshippers were initially feared abducted when armed men invaded the community during a worship session, but 80 were later confirmed to have escaped from their captors.
He added that 86 worshippers are still being held by the bandits.
The traditional ruler lamented what he described as attempts to politicise the incident, noting that families of the victims were still traumatised by the ordeal.
He appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of those still in captivity.
A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the return of the displaced worshippers to sustained security operations targeting bandits’ camps in Kajuru and adjoining forest corridors.
It was gathered that details surrounding how the worshippers escaped, as well as the conditions under which those still held are being kept, remain unclear.
The development came amid renewed violence in the area, as bandits reportedly attacked Maikori community in Maro Ward of Kajuru Local Government Area on Tuesday, killing three residents.
A resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, identified the victims as Hassan Agola, Lawal Samson and Baba Apolo.
Residents recalled that the Kurmin Wali attack occurred on a Sunday night when gunmen stormed the community during a worship session, abducting several people and forcing others to flee.
Families of the abducted worshippers were said to be living in anxiety but remain hopeful of their safe return, following reports of intensified military operations in the area.
A community source said troops had stepped up patrols and offensive actions in recent days, enabling some displaced residents to cautiously return to their homes.
The latest killings in Maikori have heightened tension across Kajuru, with residents and community leaders calling for a stronger and permanent security presence to prevent further attacks.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time of filing this report.
Kajuru Local Government Area has remained one of the flashpoints of banditry in Kaduna State, with repeated attacks over the years resulting in loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of property.