Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja/Northern Nigeria — The Nigerian Government is facing mounting pressure at home and abroad following the mass abduction of more than 170 worshippers during coordinated attacks on churches in Kurmin Wali, Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, last Sunday, January 18, 2026. Families in the affected communities publicly released the names of those kidnapped in a widely shared document on Tuesday, underscoring the scale and human impact of one of the most severe mass abductions in recent years.
According to the compiled list, 177 worshippers were seized when gunmen — widely described as armed bandits — attacked three churches during ongoing services. The list includes men, women, and children from entire families who were taken, leaving the village traumatised and largely deserted as survivors fled to neighbouring communities for safety.
Early reports from local lawmakers, rights groups and advocacy organisations placed the number of missing between 163 and 177, after 11 people reportedly escaped captivity in the immediate aftermath of the attack. While initial official statements from the Kaduna State police denied any abduction had occurred, insisting that reports were false and challenging critics to provide names and details, those assertions were later reversed following verification by operational units and intelligence sources. The police subsequently confirmed the mass kidnapping and acknowledged that armed bandits had indeed taken victims from three separate church congregations in the early hours of Sunday’s services.
The attacks targeted worshippers gathered at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and two Cherubim and Seraphim churches. Community leaders told investigators the assailants arrived armed and in numbers large enough to overwhelm the largely unprotected congregations. Many families were seized as they prayed, leaving entire households in captivity and communities devastated.
The public release of the abductees’ names — a significant act of transparency demanded by residents and rights advocates — has intensified scrutiny on the federal and state government’s response to the crisis. Churches, civil society organisations and families of the victims are now calling for urgent, concrete government action to rescue the captives and prevent further attacks as insecurity spreads across rural areas of northern Nigeria.
International rights groups have condemned what they describe as the government’s delayed response and initial reluctance to acknowledge the attack. Amnesty International Nigeria has urged authorities to ensure the safe and swift return of all abducted worshippers, noting that the incident reflects a wider failure to protect civilians from armed group attacks that have repeatedly targeted both Christians and Muslims in remote communities.
The abduction has also drawn attention from global media and foreign observers, amid ongoing debates about Nigeria’s security strategy. Reports indicate that the incident has been raised at international forums, including queries addressed to Nigerian officials by foreign news organisations. Government representatives, including the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, were reported to have faced questions from outlets such as CNN while attending high‑level global summits about the fate of the abducted and the broader security crisis. (User reference) The release of the names is now seen by many as a direct challenge to authorities to act decisively, rather than dismiss or downplay the severity of the crimes against worshippers simply because of political sensitivities. (User reference)
The situation has sparked widespread debate within Nigeria about how civilians, especially in rural areas far from major urban security deployments, remain vulnerable to attacks by well‑armed criminal groups commonly referred to as “bandits.” Past incidents — including kidnappings at schools and villages across the northwestern and central regions — have underscored the persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s security apparatus.
As families continue to await news of their loved ones, advocacy leaders and community representatives are urging the government to move beyond bureaucratic disputes over reporting and to prioritise rapid rescue efforts, improved protection for vulnerable communities, and accountability for those responsible. The release of the abductees’ names has become a rallying point for those who fear that without transparent action and tangible results, horrific incidents like this will recur with regularity.
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