“Over 160 worshippers” abducted in Kaduna church attacks

Armed groups abducted more than 160 worshippers from two churches in Kaduna State over the weekend, in one of the largest mass kidnappings reported so far this year.

The attacks occurred on Sunday in Kurmin Wali, a forested community in the Afogo ward of Kajuru local government area, according to police and church officials. Kaduna State police said gunmen armed with “sophisticated weapons” stormed the churches around midday, firing shots and forcibly taking worshippers into nearby forests.

While police said they were still verifying the number of abducted persons due to the area’s difficult terrain and poor road access, church leaders reported significantly higher figures. Reverend John Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the country’s northern region, said 172 worshippers were initially taken, with nine later escaping, leaving at least 163 people still in captivity.

“Information came to me from elders of the churches that one hundred and seventy-two worshippers were abducted while nine escaped,” Hayab stold Reuters.

Kaduna has witnessed several attacks by so-called bandits. Operating from vast forest enclaves that span Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger and Katsina states, these groups routinely target villages, highways, schools and places of worship, abducting civilians for ransom.

Despite repeated military operations and the deployment of additional security forces, attacks have continued, raising questions about the effectiveness of current counterinsurgency strategies. Police said troops and other security agencies have been deployed to track the abductors and secure the release of the captives.

The latest abductions come amid renewed international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation, particularly in relation to attacks on religious communities. The country has faced persistent allegations of inadequate protection for civilians, especially in rural areas where state presence is thin.

Beyond the immediate human toll, mass kidnappings have broader economic and social consequences. They disrupt local economies, deepen displacement, and reinforce a climate of fear that discourages investment and agricultural activity in affected regions.