Joy In Kaduna As Abducted Schoolchildren Regain Freedom After 36 Days

Six schoolchildren, their driver, and two other adults abducted by suspected bandits along the Akwando–Kachia Road in Kaduna State have regained their freedom after spending 36 days in captivity.

According to Ireporter Online, the victims were kidnapped on April 26, 2026, when armed men attacked a vehicle transporting schoolchildren from Akwando village to Kachia, the headquarters of Kachia Local Government Area. Nine passengers were reportedly taken during the assault, while a young girl lost her life in the incident.

Confirming their release, the spokesman of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association, Manasseh Samuel, said the freed victims returned home on Sunday morning after trekking for several hours through a forested area.

Samuel noted that the survivors walked for about six hours through the bush before reaching safety, while also expressing gratitude to individuals and groups who offered prayers and support during the ordeal.

Former media aide to the late Kaduna State governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Reuben Buhari, also confirmed the development in a Facebook post, stating that the victims regained their freedom on Sunday and arrived home the following morning after their difficult journey through the bush.

Buhari further described the experience as traumatic, adding that the schoolchildren missed nearly an entire academic term while in captivity. He also called for continued prayers for other victims still being held by abductors, including those from Awon and Ariko communities, noting that some have spent 42 and 57 days respectively in captivity.