Six schoolchildren abducted by suspected bandits in Kaduna State have regained their freedom after spending 36 days in captivity, bringing relief to their families and communities.
The children, alongside their driver and two other passengers, were kidnapped on April 26, 2026, when armed men attacked a vehicle conveying them to school along the Akwando-Kachia Road in Kachia Local Government Area of the state. The attack reportedly claimed the life of a young girl, while nine others were taken away by the assailants.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association (KUDA), Manasseh Samuel, said the victims returned home on Sunday after their release by the kidnappers.
According to him, the victims trekked for about six hours through the bush before reaching safety and reuniting with their families.
A former media aide to the late Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Reuben Buhari, also confirmed the release in a social media post. Buhari disclosed that the schoolchildren, their driver and the two other adults arrived home safely after enduring more than a month in captivity.
He noted that the victims had been deprived of their freedom for over five weeks and that the schoolchildren lost nearly an entire academic term while in captivity.
Buhari expressed gratitude to individuals, groups and well-wishers who offered prayers and support throughout the period of the victims’ ordeal, describing their release as a moment of thanksgiving for the affected families and communities.
The latest development comes amid growing concerns over the persistent attacks on schools and communities across parts of northern Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom has remained a major security challenge despite ongoing military operations and government interventions.
While celebrating the release of the victims, community leaders called for sustained efforts to secure the freedom of other residents still being held by kidnappers in the area. According to Buhari, some residents abducted from Awon and Ariko villages have remained in captivity for more than six weeks, raising fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in the affected communities.
The release of the schoolchildren comes at a time when school-related abductions continue to attract national attention, with education stakeholders and civil society groups repeatedly calling on authorities to strengthen security around schools and ensure the safety of pupils, teachers and other education workers across the country.
