Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the northern states has intensified calls for the immediate rescue of worshippers abducted during church services in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, amid widespread concern and backlash over initial denials by security agencies. Religious leaders and community representatives say the delay in acknowledging the abductions has eroded public confidence and endangered the safety of those still in captivity, prompting urgent demands for decisive action.
The controversy centres on an attack on January 18, 2026, when suspected armed assailants stormed multiple churches in the Kurmin Wali community during Sunday worship, forcibly seizing large numbers of congregation members. Eyewitness reports and community testimonies indicate that the armed group surrounded at least three places of worship — including the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and two Cherubim and Seraphim churches — and marched worshippers into the forest. Many victims include entire families, women, children, and the elderly, highlighting the devastating human impact of the raid. Local advocacy groups and documentation from communities say that dozens escaped, but well over 160 individuals remain unaccounted for, with some estimates placing the number of abducted worshippers at around 168 to 177 people still in captivity.
In the immediate aftermath, state police officials publicly denied that any such mass kidnappings had taken place, characterising reports as “falsehoods” and urging the public not to be misled by rumours. Kaduna State’s Commissioner of Police and other government representatives, speaking after a State Security Council meeting, dismissed the abduction claims as misinformation spread by “conflict entrepreneurs,” insisting that security assessments in the area found no evidence of the alleged incident. They challenged critics to “produce the names and particulars” of supposed victims.
The contradictory narratives sparked frustration and alarm among religious and civil society groups. Northern CAN leadership, led by Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has repeatedly reaffirmed that the abductions did occur, based on direct reports from local CAN officials, community leaders and survivors. In public statements and interviews, Hayab stressed that the attackers struck while congregants were mid‑service, encircled the church compounds, and forcibly took worshippers into the bush. He described the incident as a “very sad and tough situation” and reiterated that security agencies must prioritise rescue operations to secure the safe return of the abducted faithful.
Church leaders and human rights observers have also highlighted that initial denial by authorities may have diminished the sense of urgency in mobilising broader search and rescue efforts. The early official statements dismissing the incident as untrue came as videos circulated on social media and other online platforms, showing overturned chairs, disrupted interiors of churches, and testimonies from witnesses and escapees — evidence that many advocates say corroborates what happened on that Sunday morning. Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a prominent human rights lawyer, publicly criticised the denial of the abductions, emphasising that factual accounts and visual documentation should inform official responses rather than be dismissed to prevent alarm. He remarked that “facts are stubborn” and cannot be negated simply for convenience, underscoring the need for transparent engagement with the reality on the ground.
The perceived disconnect between official denials and community testimonies has had broader repercussions. Days after the incident, the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna State chapter insisted that the abductions were “‘incontrovertible,’” based on clear accounts from local leadership within the affected community. They affirmed that worshippers were taken from three church services and that the details received from secure sources within the area left no room for dispute about the gravity and occurrence of the attacks.
CAN’s urgent calls for action are tied not only to the release of those abducted but also to restoring public trust in security institutions. Many residents and leaders across Kaduna and neighbouring regions have expressed that conflicting public statements from security officials and government representatives have deepened fear and distrust, at a time when communities are already grappling with recurring insecurity, bandit attacks and kidnappings. Religious leaders argue that swift, credible action and consistent messaging are crucial to reassuring families and reducing panic.
The abductions also underscore a broader pattern of violence affecting places of worship and civilian spaces in parts of northern Nigeria, where armed gangs routinely strike remote communities with minimal security presence. Analysts and human rights advocates note that incidents such as church abductions, kidnappings and armed raids reflect persistent gaps in protective measures for vulnerable populations, particularly in rural areas. Calls for accelerated rescue action, better intelligence sharing, and stronger collaboration between security forces and community stakeholders are growing louder.
International observers and rights organisations have weighed in too, condemning delays and perceived hesitations in official acknowledgment of such attacks. Advocates point out that responsiveness — rather than denial — is key to effective crisis management and to safeguarding civilian lives, irrespective of religious affiliation.
For families of the abducted, the fear and uncertainty are immediate and profound. Relatives who escaped or survived the attacks continue to recount harrowing experiences of escaping ambushes and fleeing through forests to reach safety, while those still missing remain at risk of harm. CAN and allied groups have reiterated that every possible effort must be made to locate the victims, secure their freedom, and bring them home without further harm.
As pressure mounts from Northern CAN and civil society groups, security agencies are now being called upon to rebuild confidence with transparent communication, align operational responses with verified on‑the‑ground information, and ensure that rescue efforts are both prompt and effective. The tragic episode in Kurmin Wali has become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with insecurity, highlighting the urgent need for coherent leadership, credible information flows, and decisive protective action for vulnerable communities.
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