By Muhammed Abubakar With Agency Report
TWO Weeks of Horror
Dozens of worshippers abducted from two churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have shared chilling accounts of abuse, hunger and brutality during their two-week captivity in the forest.
The victims were kidnapped on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at about 9am while attending church services. They were eventually rescued in the early hours of Thursday after spending 14 days in the bush under the control of their abductors.
Speaking to Daily Trust, one of the survivors, Hosea Madami, said the captives endured constant physical abuse and degrading treatment.
“We suffered terribly in the forest. They beat me on my head and hands. They fed us like dogs, putting small portions of food into our hands. There was no salt, so the food had no taste,” he said.
Madami added that the abductors forced them to trek endlessly through the forest.
“We walked for almost six days. They kept beating us with sticks. Honestly, we suffered greatly,” he recalled.
Another survivor, Rebecca Josiah, described hunger as the most painful part of the ordeal.
“I ate only four times in the two weeks we were in the forest. Sometimes they gave us kunu, and at other times tuwo, all in our hands,” she said.
She added that they were made to walk barefoot for days, leaving many with swollen feet and injuries.
“We walked without shoes. My feet swelled up and I stepped on thorns. But we thank God that we came back alive,” she said.
A third victim, Philomena Jonathan, said food was grossly inadequate and that male captives were frequently beaten by their captors.
An unnamed woman among the abductees said bathing was strictly forbidden, even when they camped close to a river.
“If anyone coughed, they beat the person, especially the men. When small children cried too much, they threatened to kill them if they did not stop,” she narrated.
Pregnant Woman Freed Early
One of the victims, Theresa Irimiya, who was pregnant at the time of the abduction, said she was spared physical assault.
“They did not beat me because I was pregnant. Later, they told me to go home with the small children,” she said.
She was released several days before the remaining captives.
An elderly woman also revealed that she managed to escape by hiding in the bush for days before finding her way to a neighbouring settlement.
“When they came, I hid in the bush because I was afraid. After some days, I came out and ran to another settlement,” she said.
A community leader, who spoke anonymously, said the final release happened late on Wednesday night.
“Between 11pm and midnight, we saw heavy vehicles entering the forest around Maro town. They returned with the victims between 1am and 2am on Thursday,” he said.
It remains unclear whether ransom was paid or if the motorcycles reportedly demanded by the kidnappers were handed over to secure the victims’ freedom.
Earlier reports indicated that 177 people were abducted during the attack. Eleven escaped on the day of the incident, while about 80 others, mostly children, were later found in forest settlements.
Reacting to the rescue, the village head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, expressed gratitude to the Kaduna State Government and security agencies.
“We are happy. They are all currently with the government. They include children, women and adults,” he said.
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