Kaduna Community Publishes Comprehensive List of 177 Abducted Churchgoers
The names of 177 worshippers who were abducted on Sunday, January 18, from three churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state have been officially released by community leaders. This disclosure comes amid conflicting reports and official denials from security agencies regarding the mass kidnapping incident.
Police Denial and Subsequent Criticism
One day after the attack, on Monday, January 19, the Kaduna State Police Command issued a statement dismissing reports of the abduction as falsehoods spread by what they termed "conflict entrepreneurs" seeking to disrupt the state's relative peace. During a press briefing in Kaduna, Commissioner of Police Muhammad Rabiu challenged those spreading the reports to provide names and details of the victims, insisting that there was no official record of such abductions.
This denial drew significant criticism from various quarters, including human rights organizations and concerned citizens. Christian Solidarity Worldwide-Nigeria (CSW-N) accused security operatives of obstructing independent verification efforts. The group reported that soldiers prevented their fact-finding team from accessing the affected community, despite presenting proper identification documents.
Community Verification and List Publication
The comprehensive list was finally released on Wednesday, January 21, by Sebastine Barde, President of the Adara Development Association (ADA). This umbrella body represents the Adara Ethnic Nationality in both Kajuru and Kachia Local Government Areas of Kaduna state. The publication of names serves as a direct response to the police challenge for verification.
The detailed list reveals the heartbreaking scope of the abduction, including entire families taken captive together. Among the most affected families are:
- The Amos family with 13 members in captivity
- The Jonathan family with 12 members kidnapped
- At least nine members of the Markus family
- Six members from the Markudi family
The victims span multiple generations, with the oldest being 71-year-old Augustina Matthew and the youngest being 5-year-old Salvation Idris. This demographic spread underscores the indiscriminate nature of the attack on worshippers.
Context of Repeated Attacks
This mass abduction occurred barely one week after the same community reportedly paid N2.6 million in ransom to secure the release of 20 residents previously abducted by bandits. This pattern of attacks highlights the ongoing security challenges facing communities in Kaduna state, particularly in vulnerable rural areas.
The publication of the complete list represents a significant development in bringing transparency to the incident and contradicts earlier official statements that sought to minimize or deny the attack's occurrence. Community leaders have taken matters into their own hands to document and publicize the tragedy, ensuring that the victims are not forgotten amid conflicting narratives.
