How DSS, ONSA, Army rescue remaining Kurmin Wali abducted worshippers in Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

In the early hours of Thursday, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and backed by the Nigerian Army, recovered 88 captives from bandits’ hideouts in the Kajuru–Kachia axis. The victims included men, women and two toddlers.

It would be recalled that gunmen attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali on Jan. 18 and abducted about 167 worshippers. While 80 were released on Feb. 1, others remained in captivity until the latest rescue.

One member of the rescue team, who spoke with security analyst Zagazola after the mission, described the operation as “purely intelligence-led.

“There was no shooting, no drama. Everything depended on timing, trust, and pressure. We had to move quietly through insecure villages, meet the handlers, and wait in the bush until they produced the victims,” the operative said.

According to him, the convoy left Kaduna city at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday under DSS escort and proceeded through Kachia to Kajuru LGA, navigating narrow and insecure routes to reach Maro and Cibiya villages.

At 11:00 p.m., the team made contact with local intermediaries the kachallas men who sit between communities and criminal groups. Thirty minutes later, they were led to Cibiya village. There was no time for pleasantries. We told them straight: we are here for the victims,” the operative said. “Nothing else.” he said.

For reasons known only to the abductors, the captives were not brought to the meeting point. Instead, the rescue team was asked to wait. In the bush. For an hour and a half.

“Those 90 minutes felt like a lifetime,” the operative recalled. “You are in hostile terrain, with no guarantee of what comes next.”he said.

“At exactly 12:45 a.m., in a dark thicket outside Cibiya village, the waiting ended. From different corners of the bush, shadows began to move first a woman clutching a child, then a man limping, then another, and another. In silence, 88 kidnapped worshippers emerged from captivity. There were no sirens. No gunfire. No cheering. Just relief.

He added that one of the vehicles developed a flat tyre at Maro village, but the passengers were quickly redistributed among other vehicles, allowing the convoy to continue to Kaduna.

“We arrived safely and handed over the 88 rescued persons to the DSS headquarters at about 3:30 a.m. for documentation and profiling,” he said.

The source commended the support of the Army and Navy personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA), Kachia, as well as the Garrison Commander, for providing escort and coordination during the operation.

Zagazola report that the Kajuru LGA has, for years, been a pressure point in Kaduna’s security map. Its forested terrain, poor road access and proximity to Kachia and parts of Niger State make it ideal for bandit transit and hostage warehousing.

The rescue marks more than just the end of a traumatic episode for dozens of families. It also offers a revealing window into Nigeria’s evolving counter-kidnapping architecture one increasingly driven by quiet inter-agency coordination rather than loud battlefield theatrics.

What stands out in the Kurmin Wali rescue is not just the outcome, but the method. Rather than a large-scale military assault, the operation relied on fusion intelligence, the blending of DSS human intelligence, ONSA strategic coordination, and Army/Navy tactical support from the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA), Kachia.

This reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s internal security playbook:DSS handles negotiations, penetration and tracking, ONSA provides strategic oversight and deconfliction, the military ensures area dominance and safe corridors.

Such layered coordination reduces the risk of civilian casualties and prevents kidnappers from scattering hostages during raids, a recurring problem in previous operations.

The initial police denial of the incident also exposed a familiar gap: the lag between ground reality and official acknowledgment, which often complicates response time and public trust.

The Kaduna State Government is yet to issue an official statement on the operation.

How DSS, ONSA, Army rescue remaining Kurmin Wali abducted worshippers in Kaduna

Marwa Charges Nigerian Youths on Skills Acquisition, Warns Against Drug Abuse

By: Michael Mike

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) has urged Nigerian youths to prioritise skills acquisition and empowerment opportunities as a strategic defence against drug abuse, unemployment and other social vices threatening national stability.

Marwa gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the launch of a youth empowerment and skills acquisition programme organised by Grassroots Bridge Builders, a non-governmental organisation.

He described the initiative as a critical intervention that supports the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on youth empowerment, job creation, social inclusion and crime prevention. According to him, equipping young Nigerians with practical and employable skills is a sustainable approach to addressing poverty, drug dependency and insecurity.

The NDLEA boss commended Grassroots Bridge Builders for its plan to train and empower 10,000 youths, noting that such efforts go beyond charity to serve as long-term investments in national development. He stressed that empowering young people strengthens their resilience, builds character and reduces their vulnerability to drug abuse and criminal activities.

Marwa emphasised that the fight against drug abuse cannot be left to government alone, calling for stronger collaboration among non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, faith-based institutions, community leaders and the private sector. He encouraged stakeholders to partner with the NDLEA in developing community-driven programmes that provide young people with skills, dignity and a sense of purpose.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Marwa described Nigerian youths as a vital asset to the country’s future rather than a burden to be managed. He urged them to take advantage of empowerment initiatives, reject drug use and invest in their talents to contribute meaningfully to national growth.

He reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to supporting credible, non-partisan initiatives that promote youth development, skills acquisition and drug-free communities, describing youth empowerment as the most sustainable pathway to securing Nigeria’s future.

Marwa Charges Nigerian Youths on Skills Acquisition, Warns Against Drug Abuse

NSCDC Boss Charges Personnel on Professionalism, Integrityin VIP Protection

By: Michael Mike

​The Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Audi has issued a stern mandate to officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and commitment in the protection of Very Important Persons (VIPs).

The CG gave this charge during his keynote address at a three-day VIP leadership and management workshop held at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

The intensive training brought together state commandants, VIP commanders, and armorers from across the country.

​Audi emphasized that the mandate for VIP protection as conferred by President Bola Tinubu is a sacred trust that must not be compromised. He warned that his administration maintains a zero tolerance policy for any form of misconduct.

He said: “This administration will sanction any personnel found sabotaging the Corps’ efforts in implementing the VIP mandate,” adding that: “This responsibility must be carried out to the admiration of the government and Nigerians to justify the confidence reposed in us.”

The workshop, organized under the Directorate of Training and Manpower Development, serves as a strategic intervention to sharpen the tactical and administrative skills of the Corps’ leadership.

Acting Deputy Commandant General Muktar Lawal, explained that the curriculum focuses on: strengthening leadership capacity and management skills.

Improving interdepartmental coordination.

Reinforcing professionalism in armory management and decision-making.

​The CG underscored the importance of excellence by commending the VIP National Commander, Deputy Commandant of Corps Anyor Donald, for his professionalism and loyalty, urging others to embrace similar qualities.

​The event featured goodwill messages from the Corps’ top brass, including Deputy Commandants General Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, fdc; Nnamdi Nwinyi; Pedro Awili Ideba; and Professor Tyoor Frederick Terhemba, all echoing the need for heightened accountability in the field.

NSCDC Boss Charges Personnel on Professionalism, Integrityin VIP Protection