Fear and uncertainty have gripped Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of southern Kaduna following the abduction of 177 Christian worshippers in coordinated church attacks, the second major assault on the area within one week.
The incident occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen stormed three churches during morning services, seizing worshippers at gunpoint and marching them into nearby forests. Although 11 victims later escaped, 166 women, men and children remain in captivity.
Initial reports of the abduction were dismissed by the Kaduna State Government, the police command and the chairman of Kajuru LGA. However, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, later confirmed the incident, clarifying that earlier statements by the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, were made while security agencies were still verifying details from the field.
By Wednesday, findings revealed that the once-busy Kurmin Wali community had been largely deserted. Residents fled their homes in fear, farms were abandoned, schools shut down indefinitely and the local market stood empty as panic spread across the area.
A resident, Linus Abu, said the community had barely recovered from an earlier attack on January 11, when suspected armed Fulani militia kidnapped villagers and demanded ransom.
“We paid N23m before those taken on January 11 were released. The terrorists gave instructions over the phone, and our people carried the money in sacks deep into the bush,” he said.
Unlike the earlier incident, the abductors have yet to formally demand ransom for the 166 victims still in captivity. Instead, they reportedly demanded compensation for 17 motorcycles allegedly lost during recent military operations in the area.
“They said each motorcycle costs N1.7m. That is about N28.9m we must pay before they will even talk about ransom,” Abu explained.
The village head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed that the bandits contacted a community negotiator, insisting that the missing motorcycles must be returned before the captives could be freed. He added that the attackers accused villagers of stealing the motorcycles and tampering with others by removing vital parts.
“So far, they have not asked for money directly, only for the motorcycles and replacement of damaged parts,” Dan’azumi said.
Residents believe the attack is linked to ongoing military offensives against bandit camps in parts of Kajuru and neighbouring Kauru Local Government Area. Fear has paralysed daily life, with many villagers seeking refuge in nearby communities.
“There is no school, no farming, no normal life anymore. Everyone is afraid,” said Hasan Emman, a farmer who fled the village.
Survivors and church officials narrated how the attackers struck with precision. Witnesses said the gunmen arrived around 9am, wielding AK-47 rifles, and surrounded worshippers in different churches simultaneously.
The Secretary of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Kurmin Wali, Yunana Dauji, said worshippers were threatened and forced to move from one church to another as the attackers gathered their captives.
“They warned us not to run. Over 50 people from our church alone were taken,” he said.
Joseph Bawa, secretary of the Evangelical Church Winning All, said the attackers burst into the church shouting and immediately began abducting worshippers.
“They gathered everyone together and marched us into the forest,” he said.
Among those abducted was the village head himself, though he later escaped alongside 10 others. His son, Linus Madami, said two of his father’s wives and children are still being held.
Some captives managed to escape during the long trek through the forest when the kidnappers forced them to cross a shallow river. Those who deliberately slowed down fled back to the village once the attackers crossed ahead.
Military sources confirmed that the attackers were bandits fleeing sustained military operations that had dislodged them from long-established camps in Kauru LGA. The camps, located around Gabachua, Legede and the Agwalla forest corridors, were known hideouts used for kidnappings and other crimes.
According to the sources, the abduction was likely retaliatory, as the bandits reportedly lost logistics, including motorcycles, during military raids. Troops have since been deployed for hot pursuit operations across forest corridors stretching toward the Karamai and Rijana axis.
Meanwhile, the Commandant of the 2 National Mission Force Brigade, Samaru Kataf, Navy Captain I.T. Akaazua, said troops recently rescued three kidnapped victims, including a child, and destroyed several terrorist camps in Kauru LGA.
He noted that although troops faced challenges due to difficult terrain and dense forests, sustained operations were gradually restoring calm to affected areas.
The Adara Development Association described the attack as a coordinated assault on three churches and accused local authorities of initially denying the abduction despite evidence from residents and survivors. The group demanded apologies from the police commissioner and the council chairman, and called on Governor Uba Sani to intervene decisively.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the abductions, warning that peace deals that favour bandits over victims undermine justice and deterrence. He urged governments to prioritise protection of citizens rather than rhetoric.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress in Kaduna State demanded the immediate rescue of the abducted worshippers, while the Christian Association of Nigeria criticised security agencies for poor communication that initially cast doubt on victims’ accounts.
On Wednesday, Governor Uba Sani visited Kurmin Wali under tight security, assuring residents that the state government was working closely with security agencies to secure the release of all abducted persons and provide care for those affected.
As negotiations remain uncertain and military operations continue, families of the abducted worshippers wait anxiously, hoping for the safe return of their loved ones amid growing fears and frustration.
