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.
The victims were kidnapped on April 26, 2026, when armed bandits attacked a vehicle conveying schoolchildren from Akwando village to Kachia, the headquarters of Kachia Local Government Area.
Nine persons were taken away during the attack, while a young girl reportedly lost her life in the incident.
The spokesperson of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association, Manasseh Samuel, confirmed the release of the victims, stating that they arrived home on Sunday morning after trekking for several hours through the bush.
“The victims returned home on Sunday morning after trekking for about six hours through the bush,” Samuel disclosed.
He expressed gratitude to individuals, community groups, and well-wishers who offered prayers and support throughout the period of the victims’ captivity.
The development was also confirmed by Reuben Buhari, a former media aide to the late Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa. In a social media post, Buhari revealed that the victims regained their freedom on Sunday and reached their communities the following morning.
“Thirty-six days after they were kidnapped while on their way to school in Kachia from Akwando village, six schoolchildren, the driver of the vehicle, and two other adults regained their freedom yesterday and got home this morning after trekking for six hours in the bush,” he stated.
Buhari further appreciated everyone who contributed in various ways toward securing the release of the victims.
According to him, the children endured a traumatic experience and lost almost an entire academic term while in captivity.
He also called for continued prayers and support for other residents who remain in the custody of kidnappers, particularly victims abducted from Awon and Ariko communities.
Reports indicate that those kidnapped from Awon village have spent 42 days in captivity, while victims from Ariko village have remained with their abductors for 57 days.
The latest release offers a measure of relief to affected families and communities, even as concerns persist over the security situation in parts of Kaduna State and other regions facing similar threats.