The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reiterated its commitment to securing the safe rescue of abducted residents of Kurmin Wali in Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State.
According to Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, the military has taken note of concerns raised by affected communities and affirmed that the rescue of all kidnapped victims remains a top priority.
“The military, in coordination with other security agencies, has continued intelligence-driven operations in Kurmin Wali and adjoining forest areas believed to harbour the kidnappers,” Onoja said.
He added that the operations include ground patrols, surveillance missions, intelligence gathering and carefully targeted actions, all aimed at rescuing captives without endangering their lives.
“The restraint shown during some operations is deliberate. Such caution is intended to avoid unintended harm to the hostages,” he explained.
Onoja also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to dismantle the criminal networks responsible for the abductions in the area.
The incident took place last Sunday when gunmen attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali, abducting about 167 worshippers.
Initially, the Kaduna State Police Command dismissed reports of the abduction, calling them falsehoods propagated by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to “disrupt the state’s relative peace.”
However, on Tuesday, Benjamin Hundeyin, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), confirmed that the abduction had taken place.
He explained that comments made by the Kaduna Commissioner of Police were “aimed at preventing panic while verification was ongoing — and were not intended to deny the incident.”
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