In a brazen assault that has heightened tensions across the region, armed bandits attacked two churches in a remote part of Kaduna State, abducting more than 160 worshippers. The coordinated attack has sparked a major security operation as authorities scramble to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
Details of the Coordinated Sunday Morning Assault
The terrifying incident occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at approximately 11:25 a.m. Gunmen, described as being armed with sophisticated weapons, targeted the two churches located in Kurmin Wali, a forest community within the Afogo ward of Kaduna State.
Mansir Hassan, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer and an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the attack. He stated that the remote nature of the area, compounded by bad roads, initially hampered the flow of reliable information and the security response.
Conflicting Figures and Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Initial reports on the number of abductees were unclear. Police spokesperson Hassan, in a statement to Reuters on Monday, January 19, 2026, indicated that officers were still working to confirm the exact figure.
However, a clearer picture emerged from church leadership. Reverend John Hayab, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the northern region, provided detailed information from local church elders. He revealed that the bandits initially seized 172 worshippers.
In a slight turn of fortune, nine of the captives managed to escape from their abductors, leaving 163 individuals still missing and believed to be held in the bandits' den.
Security Mobilization and Wider Context of Violence
According to the Police PRO, a joint operation involving troops and other security agencies has been deployed to the area. Hassan emphasized that concerted efforts are underway to track the kidnappers and secure the safe rescue of all captives.
This attack is part of a disturbing pattern of violence targeting places of worship and communities in Nigeria. It recalls a similar tragedy in late 2025, when gunmen attacked a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Kogi State, kidnapping a pastor, his wife, and other worshippers.
Furthermore, armed groups have previously targeted an ECWA church in Àaaaz-Kiri, killing at least one person and abducting several others. These coordinated raids, often occurring during Sunday services, have created an atmosphere of fear, causing some communities to flee their homes.
The latest kidnapping in Kaduna has drawn condemnation from community and religious leaders, who are calling for urgent intervention from both state and federal authorities to address the escalating security crisis.
