Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani on Wednesday led a high-powered delegation of senior government officials and heads of security agencies to commiserate with the people of Kurmin Wali.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has assured residents of Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state that all those abducted during Sunday’s attack on the community will be rescued and returned home safely.
Governor Sani gave the assurance on Wednesday when he led a high-powered delegation of senior government officials and heads of security agencies to commiserate with the people of Kurmin Wali.
He said his administration would not relent until every abducted person regains freedom.
Uba Sani disclosed that in the last two days, the state government had been working closely with relevant security agencies, including the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the Office of the National Security Adviser, to ensure the speedy rescue of the victims.
“The number of those abducted does not matter,” the governor said. “Whether it is one person or one hundred, it is the responsibility of the Kaduna State Government to protect the lives and property of its citizens.”
He condemned attempts by some individuals to politicise the incident, stressing that the focus should be on the sanctity of human life rather than figures or political considerations.
“We are not talking about numbers or politics. We are talking about human lives and human dignity, and that is why we will go to any length, in collaboration with security agencies, to ensure the quick return of our people in Kurmin Wali,” he said.
The governor also announced that the state government would bear the medical bills of those who sustained injuries during the attack.
To prevent a recurrence, Uba Sani said he would liaise with the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, to facilitate the establishment of a military base in the area, given its proximity to known kidnapping and banditry flashpoints.
He explained that while insecurity along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway had been largely contained, criminal elements had shifted into rural communities, noting that Kurmin Wali is close to Rijana, identified as one of the epicentres of banditry.
The governor further promised the construction of an access road linking Kurmin Wali to the highway, directing the Commissioner for Public Works to carry out an assessment ahead of the project’s commencement.
He also pledged that a Primary Healthcare Centre would be built in the community.
Uba Sani thanked the people of Kurmin Wali for their support and trust in his administration, describing his government as inclusive and committed to protecting all residents regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation.
“We are one in Kaduna State, and I am happy that the people of Kurmin Wali have demonstrated their confidence in the government, even in this moment of grief,” he said.
In his remarks, the Agwam Kufana, Chief Dauda Titus, said he received a distress call while in church on Sunday informing him of the attack.
He explained that community leaders had refrained from giving details since the incident because the exact number of abducted persons was unclear.
Chief Titus appealed to the state government to prioritise the construction of the access road to Kurmin Wali, noting that a journey that should take about 10 minutes often lasts up to 30 minutes due to poor road conditions.
He also requested the provision of additional social amenities for the community.
Also speaking, the National President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Engr Emmanuel Tabara, commended Governor Uba Sani for personally visiting Kurmin Wali, describing him as the first governor to do so.
He praised the governor’s proactive response despite what he called conflicting reports surrounding the incident and assured him of the support of the people of Southern Kaduna.
“This is not about politics,” Tabara said. “It is about standing with the people. Your detractors have failed because the people are with you.”
He concluded by praying for God’s protection and continued success for the governor in his leadership endeavours.
