DSS rescues kidnapped pastors in Niger, arrests ammunition runners in joint operation

Operatives of the Department of State Services in Niger State have rescued two pastors and a church member who were abducted by bandits in Kaduna State.

The victims—Rev. Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob, and Suleiman Adamu—were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, in the Gwagwada area of Chikun Local Government Area while traveling to officiate a wedding ceremony in Niger State.

Receiving the rescued individuals in Kaduna on Friday, Rev. John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, confirmed they were safely recovered from the bush by DSS operatives.

He praised the agency for its courageous and timely intervention, stating it has brought relief to the church and rekindled hope in the fight against criminality.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, SAN, described the operation as a demonstration of security agencies’ commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

He urged public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities.

In a related development, DSS operatives from Niger and Kaduna states, in a joint operation, arrested three suspects linked to arms and ammunition courier operations along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.

One suspect, Kwalo, confessed to transporting what he believed was tantalite hidden in sacks of millet, for which he was paid ₦50,000.

He alleged he was deceived about the nature of the consignment.

The other suspects, Kawu and Iro, received ₦5,000 and ₦20,000 respectively for their roles in moving the ammunition through rural routes and motor parks to evade security checkpoints.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts