Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has promised that all those kidnapped during Sunday’s attack on Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area will be rescued and reunited with their families.
The governor provided the guarantee on Wednesday, when he led a high-powered delegation of senior government officials and security officers who visited the community to sympathize with locals.
He stated that the state administration had been working around the clock with security agencies to obtain the release of the abductees.
“In the last two days, we have been collaborating with relevant security agencies—the military, DSS, police, and the Office of the National Security Adviser—to ensure the quick recovery and return of our people abducted in this very important community,” Sani said in a statement issued Wednesday night.
Sani emphasized that the number of abducted persons was immaterial, noting that the government’s responsibility remained the same regardless of the figures involved.
“Whether it is one person or 100 people, it is the responsibility of the Kaduna State Government to protect the lives and property of its people,” he said.
He condemned attempts to politicize the incident, urging the public to focus on the sanctity of human life rather than statistics.
“We should not be talking about numbers or politics. We are talking about the sanctity of human life and human dignity. That is why we will go to any length, in collaboration with security agencies, to ensure the quick return of our people,” he added.
Sani further said that the state government would cover the medical bills of those harmed in the incident.
Regarding long-term security measures, he stated that he intends to work with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), to create a military base in Kurmin Wali, considering the community’s proximity to banditry-prone areas.
According to him, while violence on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway has been mostly managed, criminal elements have relocated their operations to hinterland villages.
“Kurmin Wali is close to Rijana town, which is one of the epicenters of banditry in the country,” the governor noted.
He also vowed to build an access road connecting Kurmin Wali to the major highway to boost mobility and security response, stating that the Commissioner for Public Works would review the proposal soon. He also vowed to build a primary healthcare center for the town.
“The people of Kurmin Wali, like others across Kaduna State, trust this government because we are running an inclusive administration. We protect lives irrespective of religion or ethnicity. We are one in Kaduna State,” Sani said.
