The governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has publicly designated the Rijana settlement along the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway as an epicentre of insecurity in Nigeria, citing a surge in violent attacks and mass kidnappings in the area. This declaration was made during a visit to Kaduna following a major abduction incident on January 18, 2026.
The escalation of criminal activity in Rijana and neighbouring communities has intensified after suspected bandits abducted dozens of worshippers from multiple churches in the Kajuru Local Government Area. Initial reports placed the number of hostages at 177, all taken during services, although state security forces and government authorities initially provided conflicting accounts.
Governor Sani identified Rijana’s strategic location along a major transport corridor as a factor in its attraction to criminal elements and called for enhanced security deployment, including the establishment of a permanent military facility in Kurmin Wali to prevent further attacks.
This pronouncement follows long-standing concerns about banditry and highway insecurity in northern Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target travellers and remote communities for ransom and violence. Kaduna State officials are coordinating with federal security agencies to secure the safe release of abducted victims and intensify operations against the criminal networks responsible.
