At least 166 people have reportedly been kidnapped from three churches in Kurmin Wali village, Kaduna State, during Sunday services, in what appears to be the latest in a string of mass abductions by armed gangs, locally known as “bandits.”
Reverend Joseph Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the north, said the attackers forced worshippers into the bush before seizing them. “The actual number they took was 172, but nine managed to escape,” he said. Traditional chief Ishaku Dan’azumi corroborated that 166 people remain in the kidnappers’ custody.
While local leaders and eyewitnesses insist the abductions occurred, Kaduna police have disputed the claims. Police commissioner Muhammad Rabiu told reporters that officers responded to the “alleged scene of crime,” but “till now there is no information about any attack or any kidnapping.” State commissioner for internal security Sule Shauibu labelled reports of the incident “totally false.”
Local leaders, however, accused authorities of downplaying the crisis. “It is only politicians that are denying the kidnapping of our people,” Chief Wali told AFP. He added that the village has long been under threat from bandits, who frequently abduct residents and disrupt farming activities. “This time we complained to the authorities because the number of those kidnapped is beyond our capacity to deal with,” he said.
Kidnappings for ransom have become a structured, profit-driven industry in Nigeria, particularly in the north and central regions, raising approximately $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025, according to Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence. The violence often exacerbates ethnic and religious tensions, although experts note that victims are targeted indiscriminately.
The Kaduna attacks follow a pattern of recent mass kidnappings in Nigeria. In November, over 300 students and staff were abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State, with most released weeks later. US officials have taken note of the insecurity, focusing on attacks targeting Christians, while Nigeria has cooperated with international counterterror operations, including US strikes in Sokoto State in December.
Authorities warn that further attacks are likely, as armed gangs continue to terrorize villages in northwestern and central Nigeria, raiding communities, burning homes, and demanding ransoms.