Community Rallies to Care for Abandoned Newborn After Mother’s Abduction in Kajuru

KAJURU — In a heart-wrenching scene that has gripped the Kurmin Wali community, residents have been forced to step in as surrogate parents for a newborn baby after terrorists abducted the child’s mother during a brutal raid on Sunday, January 18, 2026.

The nursing mother was among 183 worshippers seized by bandits who stormed three churches in the Kajuru Local Government Area. While the majority of the victims were eventually rescued in a joint operation involving the DSS and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in early February, the initial weeks of the crisis left the infant in the care of traumatised villagers.

The Abduction and Community Response

Witnesses described a scene of chaos as gunmen surrounded the churches, ordering everyone to file out in a parade-like fashion before leading them into the forest.

• The Infant Left Behind: Reports indicate that while some nursing mothers were taken with their children, in at least one instance, a mother was snatched while her newborn was left behind, forcing the community to mobilize for the child’s survival.
• Miraculous Escapes: Some residents, like 50-year-old Idris Madami, who lost 31 family members in the raid, recounted hiding in church bathrooms to avoid the same fate.
• A “Daily Occurrence”: Local activists have noted that such abductions have become a “daily occurrence” in the Kajuru and Chikun axes, with communities often left at the mercy of roaming terrorist groups.

Rescue and Recovery

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Governor Uba Sani officially received the final group of 172 rescued worshippers at the Government House in Kaduna.

• Medical Care: The freed victims, including several nursing mothers and children, were immediately moved to the Women and Children Shelter in Kaduna for medical evaluation and psychosocial support.
• “Kaduna Peace Model”: State officials have credited a “non-kinetic strategy” involving community engagement and dialogue for the safe return of the hostages without further loss of life.

A Lingering Threat

Despite the successful rescue, the security situation remains volatile. Just days after the Kurmin Wali victims were freed, fresh reports emerged of terrorists abducting 87 more people in the nearby Kajuru-Station community. Residents continue to call for a permanent military presence, citing the removal of key commanders as a reason for the recent resurgence in attacks.