Armed gunmen abducted scores of worshippers from at least two churches in northern Nigeria on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in what local leaders describe as one of the largest mass kidnappings in the region this year. The coordinated assault took place in Kurmin Wali village, located in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as congregants were attending morning services.
The attackers, believed to be members of an armed “bandit” gang, surrounded multiple churches — including the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and two Cherubim and Seraphim congregations — shortly after services began. Witnesses said the gunmen arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and on foot, blocked church entrances and forced worshippers into nearby bushland before driving them off into the forested hills.
Estimates of those taken vary: local officials and rights groups have released lists of up to 177 people abducted, including children as young as six and elderly villagers, while others say about 163 to 168 remain in captivity after several managed to escape.
“The attackers came in numbers and blocked the entrance of the churches and forced the worshippers out into the bush,” said Reverend Joseph Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the country’s north, referring to the incident on Monday. “The actual number they took was 172 but nine escaped, so 163 are with them.”
Usman Danlami Stingo, a state lawmaker representing the area, put the number of those still missing at 168. Survivors reported gunfire and chaos as villagers fled in panic, with some injured while escaping into surrounding forests.
Initial responses from Kaduna State police dismissing the abductions stirred controversy. Police authorities reportedly labelled early claims as misinformation, insisting there was no evidence of mass kidnappings — a stance criticised by local leaders and human rights observers who said such denials hampered rescue efforts.
Context — decades‑long insecurity
Northern Nigeria has been battling widespread insecurity for years, with armed gangs — commonly called bandits — carrying out kidnappings, village raids and ransom demands across remote communities. These groups often operate in areas with limited law enforcement presence, exploiting poor infrastructure and sparse security resources.
This incident adds to a pattern of mass abductions that has drawn international attention, including criticism from U.S. political figures who argue that Christians in Nigeria face targeted persecution. The Nigerian government rejects characterisations of faith‑based targeting and says its security forces are working to protect all citizens against violent groups.
Rights groups — such as Amnesty International Nigeria — have condemned the latest abductions and urged authorities to take concrete actions to rescue those held and prevent future attacks, saying the repeated kidnappings reflect systemic failures in addressing insecurity.
For villagers in Kurmin Wali and surrounding areas, the aftermath has been devastating: families have fled their homes, entire households were taken, and communities are grappling with trauma as loved ones remain in captivity.