Kurmin Wali Village Head: Bandits Demanding N250m, 20 Motorcycles To Release Abductees

The Kurmin Wali Village Head, Ishaku Dan’azumi, has disclosed that the suspected bandits who kidnapped over 100 worshippers on 17 January 2026 in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state have demanded N250m and 20 motorcycles as ransom to release the victims.

The three affected churches in the area were Cherubim and Seraphim 1 and 2, as well as Evangelical church Winning All (ECWA).

The Village Head, Dan’azumi, had stated last week that the bandits accused the community of stealing 17 motorcycles, which they allegedly lost during recent military operations in the Kajuru local government area.

Dan’azumi had said the attackers further accused the community of also removing some parts of the remaining motorcycles.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on Monday evening, Dan’azumi revealed the bandits’ demands, “The bandits called and said the Kurmin Wali community should pay them N250 million and 20 Motorcycles before they will release the kidnapped worshippers”, he said.

The over 100 abducted Kaduna’s Kurmin Wali worshippers were yet to be rescued 9 days after they were kidnapped on 17 January 2026 during church service.

Although security and government officials said efforts were ongoing to rescue them unharmed.

One of the security operatives who spoke with LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity said the abductee location was identified as the suspected bandits are said to be keeping them as human shields to prevent an attack on their camp. “The security team, comprising operatives from all security agencies, is working around the clock to rescue them safely”

Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls on his phone.