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Kurmin Wali Abduction: Security Identifies Victims’ Location as ACF Rejects Amnesty Option
Security agencies conducting aerial surveillance have reportedly located the camp where worshippers abducted from Kurmin Wali are being held, as concerns grow over the safety of the victims and the complexity of rescue efforts.
A security source familiar with the ongoing operation disclosed that the kidnappers are using the abducted worshippers as human shields, making a direct military assault highly risky. According to the source, surveillance imagery has pinpointed the bandits’ hideout, but any offensive action could endanger the lives of the captives.
“I cannot go into details because of the sensitivity of the operation. What I can confirm is that the location of the abducted worshippers has been identified. Unfortunately, the bandits are keeping them as human shields, which makes it difficult for security operatives to strike without causing harm to innocent victims,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the kidnappers have reportedly opened lines of communication, raising hopes for negotiations aimed at securing the victims’ release. A prominent religious leader, who requested anonymity, confirmed that discussions are ongoing.
“Our primary concern is the safe return of those abducted. We do not want to sensationalise the matter, but I can confirm that talks are ongoing towards their possible release,” the cleric stated.
Following the incident, the police deployed helicopters for aerial reconnaissance alongside armoured personnel carriers to intensify search-and-rescue operations in the affected areas. Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who visited the Kurmin Wali community on Wednesday to sympathise with residents, assured them that the victims would be rescued within days.
Efforts to obtain an update from the Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.
Amid the developments, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has dismissed calls for amnesty for bandits, arguing that such an approach would not resolve the region’s security challenges. Reacting to the mass abduction, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, said the model used in the Niger Delta could not be replicated in Northern Nigeria.
According to him, banditry in the North is driven by multiple, complex factors and lacks a central command structure, making negotiations or blanket amnesty ineffective.
“The idea of applying the Niger Delta solution to the North is a false narrative. The causes of criminality in the Niger Delta are different from those in Northern Nigeria. In the North, these crimes are not carried out by a single organised authority but by disparate gangs operating independently,” he said.
Prof. Muhammad-Baba noted that previous attempts by some North-West states to negotiate with bandits had yielded little result, stressing that insecurity in the region has become deeply entrenched.
“There is no central leadership to negotiate with. Climate change, population pressure, weak governance and corruption all play a role. Many people are benefiting from this insecurity, directly or indirectly,” he added.
The ACF spokesperson urged the Federal Government to adopt a comprehensive and forceful security strategy, including increased funding, tighter control of arms flow, and stronger regional cooperation with neighbouring countries.
“Even if it means halting certain development projects, ending this insecurity must take priority. The government must assert itself, recruit, train and deploy security forces effectively, and involve communities in early warning and response mechanisms,” he said.
He concluded that the security crisis requires a dynamic, coordinated national response rather than fragmented, state-by-state approaches, warning that unilateral efforts would continue to fall short.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a new round of appointments and promotions with immediate effect, as part of efforts to strengthen governance and enhance institutional performance in the state.
The development was announced in a statement released on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
According to the statement, Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle has been appointed as the Acting Director-General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Matawalle, a retired permanent secretary, previously served in a similar role and also held office as the board’s executive secretary. He was described as a seasoned administrator who rose through the civil service ranks from Assistant Secretary to Permanent Secretary before retiring in 2014, after eight years in the position. The statement noted his strong track record in the effective management of Hajj operations.
Governor Yusuf also approved the promotion of Yusuf Mukhtar to the rank of Permanent Secretary.
In another appointment, Barrister Rahama Malam Alhaji was named Provost of the Kano State Anti-Corruption Institute. She was praised as an accomplished legal practitioner with over seven years’ experience spanning litigation, corporate law, electricity law, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution. The statement highlighted her professional background across both public and private sectors, including her time at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company and her role as Head of the School of Law at Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria. She holds a Master of Laws degree in International Law and was credited with pioneering initiatives such as the establishment of a Law Clinic and a Student Bar Association.
The governor further approved the promotion of veteran Kannywood actress Aina’u Ade from Special Assistant to Senior Special Assistant on Kannywood Affairs, citing her impressive performance and dedication in her previous assignment.
The statement said the latest appointments and promotions reflect the administration’s resolve to reinforce governance structures and ensure the efficient management of public institutions. Governor Yusuf urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them through diligence, transparency and unwavering commitment to the Kano First Agenda.
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has issued a public alert over a fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating its Director-General, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, urging Nigerians to disregard and report any communication linked to the fake profile.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Institute’s Media Consultant, Mr Sam Eferaro, NIMR disclosed that the impostor account has been sending misleading messages to unsuspecting individuals, falsely offering procurement opportunities, contracts and other business-related engagements.
According to the statement, the attention of the Institute was drawn to the existence of the fake LinkedIn profile posing as the Director-General, adding that all messages emanating from the account are entirely fraudulent.
NIMR cautioned members of the public against engaging with any messages purportedly sent by Professor Obafunwa through LinkedIn or other unofficial platforms, particularly those soliciting business dealings or financial commitments.
The Institute further emphasised that all legitimate interactions with vendors, contractors, partners and the public are conducted strictly through recognised and official institutional channels, in line with established public service procedures.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has dismissed calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria demanding the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made concerning genocide.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN described the demand as unfounded and unjustifiable, stressing that Prof. Amupitan, like every Nigerian, is constitutionally entitled to express opinions on matters of national interest, regardless of his public office.
The Fellowship maintained that the remarks attributed to the INEC chairman had no link to his official duties, noting that they were unrelated to elections or electoral processes, which fall within the scope of his professional responsibilities.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a citizen of Nigeria, has the right to speak on issues he perceives as affecting the nation, irrespective of his appointment or position,” the statement said.
PFN further condemned suggestions that the INEC chairman should be removed on the basis of personal views expressed outside his official mandate, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent where public officials are penalised for holding or expressing independent opinions.
The organisation also cautioned against interpreting national discourse through religious perspectives, arguing that such an approach risks deepening societal divisions and threatening peaceful coexistence.
“We must guard against profiling individuals or judging them based on religious considerations. Prof. Amupitan has the right to express his views, and this should not come at the expense of his office,” the statement added.
The Fellowship urged stakeholders to exercise restraint and mutual respect in addressing sensitive national issues, emphasising that unity, fairness, and peaceful engagement must remain central to public discourse.
PFN reaffirmed its commitment to justice and national cohesion, calling on Nigerians to uphold democratic values in responding to differing opinions on matters affecting the country.