On Sunday, January 18, 2026, a mass abduction of Christian worshippers occurred in the Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State. While initial reports and government statements were conflicting, subsequent details from local leaders and residents have confirmed the gravity of the situation.

The Incident

At approximately 9:00 AM, a large group of armed men, identified by survivors as Fulani militia, stormed the community on motorcycles and on foot. The attackers divided into three groups to simultaneously target three different churches during their morning services:

• Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA)
• Albarka Cherubim and Seraphim 1
• Haske Cherubim and Seraphim 2

Witnesses reported that the gunmen surrounded the buildings, shouting jihadist slogans and threatening to shoot anyone who attempted to flee. The worshippers were then rounded up and marched into the nearby wilderness toward the Rijana forest.

The Number of Victims

While figures fluctuated in the immediate aftermath, the current consensus from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and local sources is as follows:

• Total Abducted: Approximately 172–177 people were initially seized.
• Released/Escaped: The attackers reportedly released some elderly women and young children shortly after the abduction. Additionally, about 11 people managed to escape while crossing a river.
• Currently Held: An estimated 167 Christians remain in captivity.

Information Chaos and Government Response

The incident was initially met with a “wall of silence” and denial from official channels:

• Initial Denial: On January 19, the Kaduna State Police and the Commissioner for Internal Security dismissed the reports as “fake news” and “fabrications,” claiming their investigations found no evidence of an attack.
• Confirmation: Following intense pressure from religious leaders (CAN) and international advocacy groups like Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the Nigeria Police Force released a statement on January 20 acknowledging that the incident did occur. They attributed the initial denial to a “measured response pending confirmation.”
• Restricted Access: Reports indicate that a fact-finding team from CSW Nigeria was denied entry to the community by military personnel on January 19, citing “standing orders.”

Security Context

This mass kidnapping follows a string of recent attacks in the same region. Just a week earlier, on January 11, 21 people were abducted from the same community and released only after a ransom was paid. Community leaders have expressed frustration, calling the repeated attacks a “dereliction of responsibility” by the government and urging for the strengthening of local defense groups