In a brazen and coordinated assault, armed gunmen have kidnapped more than 150 Christians during Sunday church services in northern Nigeria. The mass abduction highlights the severe security crisis plaguing remote areas of the country.
Details of the Coordinated Church Attacks
The simultaneous attacks occurred on Sunday, 18 January 2026, in the community of Kurmin Wali, located in the Kajuru area of Nigeria's north. Gunmen, described as armed with sophisticated weapons, targeted worshippers while services were underway.
Initial reports on the number of abductees varied. Usman Danlami Stingo, the local representative in the state parliament, stated that 177 people were initially missing, with 11 returning, leaving 168 still unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Reverend John Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, reported that 172 were taken, with nine escaping, resulting in 163 still being held.
Police confirmed that dozens had been abducted but noted the difficulty in obtaining reliable information due to the area's remote location and poor road infrastructure. A police spokesperson said troops and other security agencies had been deployed to track the kidnappers and rescue the captives.
Broader Context of Insecurity and International Response
It is believed that a Catholic church and two churches from the Cherubim and Seraphim denomination were targeted in the raids. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, which are a grimly common occurrence in regions where government security presence is limited.
The attack has reignited claims of religious persecution. Former US President Donald Trump and others have pointed to such incidents, although the Nigerian government denies the crisis constitutes a Christian genocide.
This kidnapping follows recent military action in the region. On Christmas Day, US strikes targeted areas near Sokoto, a Muslim-majority city, with Trump describing the operation against an Islamic State group as a Christmas present.
An Endemic Crisis of Mass Abductions
Mass kidnappings for ransom have become a frequent and devastating feature of life in parts of Nigeria. Armed gangs, often referred to locally as bandits, routinely target vulnerable and isolated communities.
The situation presents a complex challenge for Nigerian authorities, balancing local security operations with the geopolitical implications of international military involvement. The deployment of troops to the Kajuru area underscores the ongoing struggle to protect citizens and combat widespread lawlessness.
