Armed kidnappers stormed two churches in Kurmin Wali village, Kaduna State, on Sunday, abducting more than 170 worshippers during church services and deepening concerns over worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria.
One of the victims, Afiniki Moses, said she believed her suffering had ended after she was released on January 15 following the payment of ransom by her family. Days later, the same armed gang returned to the community and carried out another mass abduction, taking her husband and two of her children during a church service. While the children later managed to escape, her husband remains among at least 163 people still missing, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria.
She said the attackers kidnapped a large number of people from the community and that her husband was among those taken. Distressed and exhausted, she said the incident had taken a severe toll on her health and emotional state.
The churches targeted were the Evangelical Church Winning All and the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church. Inside one of the churches, signs of disruption were visible, with chairs scattered on the floor, a Bible left behind on a seat, and musical instruments abandoned after what had been an active worship session.
Another resident, Idris Madami, said he narrowly escaped after seeing gunmen arrive with weapons at the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church. About 20 members of his family who were inside the church were taken away, including his two wives and three children, and he has not heard from them since.
The attack has intensified pressure on the Nigerian government, which continues to face widespread criticism over persistent kidnappings and violence, particularly in northern regions. Armed gangs frequently raid rural communities, often arriving on motorcycles and abducting residents for ransom.
The government has repeatedly denied claims of systematic persecution of Christians, insisting that both Muslim and Christian civilians are victims of criminal gangs and insurgent violence. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to combat armed groups and improve security across affected areas, amid growing international scrutiny.
The mass abduction in Kaduna adds to a long list of similar attacks that have spread across northern Nigeria in recent years, underscoring the scale of the security challenge and the fear gripping vulnerable communities.
