 |
| Nigeria Police officer |
— KADUNA, Nigeria
Nigerian police officially confirmed that armed jihadists abducted more than 100 worshippers during coordinated attacks on three churches in the remote community of Kurmin Wali, in the Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
The abductions took place during ongoing church services at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Cherubim and Seraphim churches, and a Catholic church.
Initial reports from the community and the church, including those from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), estimated up to 177 people abducted, 11 of whom later escaped, leaving between 163 and 166 still in captivity. Police described the number as higher than 100 after verification through intelligence and operational sources.
The incident drew widespread attention after Kaduna State police and local authorities initially dismissed reports of the attack on Monday, January 19, calling them a “falsehood” spread by “conflict entrepreneurs” and claiming that no evidence was found during initial deployments. This drew criticism, including from Amnesty International, which condemned the response as a "desperate denial" amid Nigeria's escalating kidnapping crisis.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, Nigeria Police Force spokesman CSP Benjamin Hundeyin clarified that earlier statements by Kaduna State Police Commissioner Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu had been “misinterpreted.” He explained that conflicting accounts during a state security council meeting required caution and further verification before issuing a conclusive statement.
This is the latest attack in Nigeria, where Muslim gangs frequently target remote Christian communities and churches. Kurmin Wali, a predominantly Christian forest area, has suffered repeated acts of violence in recent months. Authorities urged calm as operations continue, with no confirmed rescues or arrests reported as of January 21.