Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have rescued two pastors and a church member abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna state.
The victims were identified as Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob and Suleiman Adamu.
They were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, at Gwagwada in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state while travelling through Kugosi to Sarkin Pawa in Niger state to officiate a wedding ceremony.
Receiving the rescued victims in Kaduna on Friday, John Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the federal capital territory, said they were rescued alive by DSS operatives.
“They were rescued alive from the bush by operatives of the DSS. This intervention has brought tremendous relief to the church, their families and the Christian community at large,” he said.
Hayab commended the DSS for what he described as a courageous and timely operation.
“This rescue shows that these criminals can be defeated if our security agencies remain coordinated and the people cooperate. Criminals thrive where communities are divided,” Hayab added.
The DSS said operatives from the Niger and Kaduna state commands also arrested three suspects linked to the abduction.
The suspects were said to be involved in arms and ammunition courier activities along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.
One of the suspects, identified as Kwalo, said the ammunition was transported through motor parks and rural routes to evade security checkpoints.
He said a consignment was received at Tegina motor park in Niger state and handed to Kawu, who later transferred it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.
The DSS said Iro conveyed the ammunition from Tegina to Sabuwa local government area of Katsina state, where it was delivered to an unidentified recipient.
Kwalo was said to have received ₦50,000 for collecting the consignment, while Kawu earned ₦5,000 and Iro ₦20,000 as courier fees.
Kwalo claimed he was deceived into handling the consignment.
“I was told that what I was carrying was tantalite, a precious stone, hidden inside sacks of millet to prevent theft,” he said during interrogation.
Reacting to the development, Sule Shuaibu, commissioner for internal security and home affairs in Kaduna state, described the operation as evidence of the commitment of security agencies.
“This operation reflects the resolve of the DSS and other security agencies to rid our communities of criminal elements,” Shuaibu said.
He said the Kaduna state government, under Uba Sani, remains committed to sustaining peace and security.