Kaduna Church Attacks: Identities of 177 Abducted Worshippers, Security Fears Deepen – Report Reveals
The identities of 177 worshippers abducted during coordinated attacks on churches in Kaduna State have been revealed, intensifying public concern over the deteriorating security situation in rural communities across the state.
The abductions occurred on Sunday when armed men stormed three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, during morning services. The affected churches include the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim Church, where scores of worshippers were forcefully taken to an unknown destination.
Residents said more than 100 people were kidnapped in the attacks, which came barely a week after the community reportedly paid a ransom of ₦2.6 million to secure the release of 20 residents abducted earlier. The recurring attacks have heightened fear, forced displacement, and disrupted farming activities in the largely agrarian community.
Initial reports of the abductions were dismissed by the Kaduna State Police Command, which described the claims as false and challenged those raising the alarm to provide the names of the victims. However, a subsequent police situation report confirmed that armed attackers invaded the churches at about 11:25 a.m. and abducted an unspecified number of worshippers.
The police attributed delays in response to difficult access to Kurmin Wali, citing poor road conditions and the community’s proximity to forested areas. Security agencies, working alongside the military, have since launched rescue operations to track the attackers and secure the release of the victims.
Human rights organisation, Christian Solidarity Worldwide–Nigeria (CSW-N), also confirmed the abductions, alleging that its team was prevented by security operatives from accessing the community during a fact-finding mission.
A detailed list of the abducted persons later emerged, revealing that entire families were taken during the raid, leaving the community traumatised and largely deserted. Some households reportedly lost between five and thirteen members in the attack.
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According to the list, the oldest abducted victim is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest is six-year-old Salvation Idris. Several other children were also among those kidnapped, underscoring the scale and brutality of the assault.
The latest mass abduction has renewed public debate over the effectiveness of existing security measures and the federal government’s emergency interventions in Kaduna State, with residents and civil society groups calling for urgent, sustained protection for vulnerable communities facing repeated attacks.
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