The Department of State Services (DSS) has rescued two pastors and a church member who were abducted by armed bandits while travelling in Kaduna State, during a security operation in Niger State.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has rescued two pastors and a church member abducted by bandits while travelling in Kaduna State.
The victims ,Rev. Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob and Suleiman Adamu were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, at Gwagwada in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State while en route to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State to officiate at a wedding ceremony.
The rescued clerics were later rescued in Kaduna by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, who confirmed that DSS operatives rescued them from their captors during security operations in Niger State.
Hayab said the intervention brought relief to the church, families of the victims and the wider Christian community.
“They were rescued alive from the bush by operatives of the DSS. This has restored hope and confidence in the ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity,” he said.
He commended the DSS for what he described as a timely and courageous operation, noting that coordinated security actions and community cooperation remained critical in defeating criminality.
According to him, criminal elements exploit divisions within communities to thrive.
Meanwhile, operatives of the DSS from the Niger and Kaduna State Commands, working jointly, also arrested three suspects alleged to be involved in the movement of arms and ammunition across the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna corridor.
According to one of the suspects, identified as Kwalo, told investigators that the group used motor parks and remote routes to transport the ammunition in order to evade security checkpoints.
He disclosed that the consignment was received at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State and handed over to one Kawu, who subsequently transferred it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.
Investigations revealed that Iro transported 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 follow specific routes to avoid detection.
Kwalo was said to have received ₦50,000 for collecting the consignment, while Kawu earned ₦5,000 as an intermediary and Iro ₦20,000 as courier.
However, Kwalo claimed he was unaware of the true contents of the consignment.
“I was told it was tantalite, a precious stone, hidden inside sacks of millet to prevent theft,” he said during interrogation.
Reacting to the development, Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), described the operation as a demonstration of the commitment of security agencies to protecting lives and property.
He said the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, remained determined to sustain peace and security across the state.
Shuaibu urged members of the public to support security agencies by reporting suspicious movements, stressing that security required collective responsibility.
