By Ayomide Otitoju
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has assured residents of Kurmin Wali village that his administration, in collaboration with security agencies, will ensure the safe and speedy return of all persons abducted during an attack on the community last Sunday.
The governor gave the assurance on Wednesday when he led a delegation of senior government officials and heads of security agencies to commiserate with the affected community. He said the state government would not relent until every abducted person is rescued and reunited with their families.
Sani disclosed that the state has been working closely with the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the Office of the National Security Adviser to secure the release of the victims.
“For the past two days, we have been collaborating with the relevant security agencies to ensure the quick return of our people who were abducted in this community,” he said.
He stressed that the number of abducted persons was immaterial, noting that the protection of lives and property remains the core responsibility of the state government.
The governor condemned attempts by some individuals to politicise the incident, urging restraint and emphasising that the focus should remain on the sanctity of human life and dignity.
“We are not talking about numbers or politics. We are talking about human lives, and that is why we will go to any length to ensure the safe return of our people,” he said.
Governor Sani also announced that the state government would bear the medical expenses of residents who sustained injuries during the attack. He further disclosed plans to engage the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, on the establishment of a military base in the community, citing its proximity to known banditry hotspots.
According to him, while insecurity along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway has been largely contained, criminal elements have shifted operations to hinterland communities such as Kurmin Wali, which is close to Rijana, identified as a major banditry hub.
The governor also pledged to construct the access road linking Kurmin Wali to the main highway to improve accessibility, noting that the Commissioner for Public Works would carry out the necessary assessment ahead of the project’s commencement. He added that a Primary Healthcare Centre would also be built in the community.
Sani thanked the residents for their support and reiterated his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, assuring that all communities in the state would continue to enjoy equal protection regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation.
In his remarks, the Agwam Kufana, Chief Dauda Titus, said he received a distress call about the attack while in church on Sunday. He explained that community leaders refrained from giving details immediately due to uncertainty over the number of abducted persons. He appealed to the state government to prioritise the construction of the access road, noting that poor road conditions delayed movement from the highway to the community.
Also speaking, the National President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Samuel Karo, commended Governor Sani for personally visiting the community, describing the move as a demonstration of responsive and pragmatic leadership.
He assured the governor of the community’s support, dismissing claims that the incident could be used for political purposes and expressing confidence in the administration’s commitment to addressing insecurity.
