Police confirms abduction of churchgoers in Kaduna controversy
Reports have emerged that hundreds of worshippers were abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during coordinated attacks on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Local church leaders, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the northern states, said armed assailants stormed services at several churches and seized dozens of congregants, with figures widely cited in community reports ranging from over 100 to more than 160 worshippers taken captive. Some survivors were said to have escaped, but many others remain unaccounted for amid the incident.
Initial accounts from church sources described gunmen arriving during Sunday services and forcibly abducting worshippers, sparking deep concern both locally and internationally. Religious leaders and rights groups urged urgent action to secure the hostages’ release and address the severe insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria where kidnappings have become a recurring threat.
However, official statements from the Kaduna State Police Command and some local authorities have denied that such mass abductions occurred, dismissing the reports as falsehoods spread by what they described as “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to disrupt peace and stability in the area. Police officials have challenged those making the claims to provide names and details of alleged victims, saying security operatives found no evidence of an attack when they visited the community.
The conflicting narratives have intensified public debate, with rights organisations and some community sources standing by the abduction reports, while security officials maintain that no such mass kidnapping took place. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about insecurity in Kaduna State and the challenges in obtaining verified information in the midst of violent incidents.
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