Over 160 Worshippers Abducted in Coordinated Kaduna Church Attacks

Coordinated Attacks Target Kaduna Churches

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, heavily armed gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on three churches in the Kurmin Wali village, located in the Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The assaults, which occurred during ongoing church services, resulted in the abduction of a significant number of worshippers. Initial reports indicated that 172 people were taken, with nine individuals managing to escape shortly after the incident, leaving 163 people still in captivity, according to Reverend Joseph Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the country's north, and Enoch Kaura, CAN's chairperson in Kajuru LGA. State lawmaker Usman Danlami Stingo reported a slightly different figure, stating that 177 people were initially missing, with 11 returning, leaving 168 still unaccounted for.

Details of the Abductions

The targeted places of worship included the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), a church belonging to the Cherubim and Seraphim denomination, and a Catholic church. Eyewitnesses described the attackers as arriving in large numbers, blocking church entrances, and forcing congregants into nearby bushland. The perpetrators are widely referred to as 'bandits,' a term commonly used in Nigeria for armed criminal gangs. Some accounts, such as from Truth Nigeria, identified the attackers as 'armed Fulani ethnic militia.'

Context of Insecurity in Northern Nigeria

This mass abduction is the latest in a series of similar incidents plaguing Nigeria's northern and central regions. Kaduna State, in particular, has been described as an 'epicenter of kidnapping and banditry activity.' These armed groups frequently target remote communities, schools, and places of worship, often seeking ransom payments. The ongoing insecurity has led to allegations of persecution of Christians by some international bodies and U.S. lawmakers, though the Nigerian government has rejected the characterization of the country's security crises as a 'Christian genocide.'

Official Response and Discrepancies

Following the attacks, the Kaduna State Government and police have reportedly dismissed claims of a mass abduction of church members as false, challenging CAN and other residents to provide evidence. However, CAN officials, including Enoch Kaura, have insisted on the veracity of the abduction figures and stated that the church was compiling a list of victims. Police officials have indicated that troops and other security agencies have been deployed to the area, and efforts are underway to track the abductors and rescue the captives. As of the latest reports, no group has claimed responsibility for the abductions.