Mass Kidnappings Shake Nigerian Churches as Christian Communities Demand Greater Security

KADUNA, Nigeria — Christian communities in northwestern Nigeria are reeling from a wave of mass kidnappings that has shaken worshippers’ confidence and underscored the country’s deepening security crisis. Armed gangs have abducted dozens of churchgoers in recent attacks targeting multiple congregations in Kaduna State, exacerbating longstanding fears among residents and religious leaders.

The violence comes amid a broader surge in kidnappings across Nigeria, where criminal networks and jihadist groups increasingly use abductions as a source of revenue and leverage.

Violent Church Abductions in Kurmin Wali

On Sunday, January 18, worshippers at Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Church 2 in the Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, were gathered in song and prayer when gunmen surrounded the church compound, eyewitnesses said. The attackers, some of whom did not conceal their faces, had already struck two other nearby churches that morning — an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) congregation and C&S Church 1 — before reaching C&S Church 2.

According to church member Raymond Na’allah, panic broke out when a female congregant spotted the armed men while using an outhouse and ran back inside to warn others. In the ensuing chaos, he managed to escape and hide, but the kidnappers seized 177 people, including 29 members of his own family.

“They took our phones, probably to discourage people from trying to escape,” Na’allah told Christianity Today. He described watching as captives were beaten before being forced into the forest.

The kidnappers later demanded a ransom of 250 million naira (about $186,000 USD) and 20 motorcycles for the hostages’ release — a staggering sum for villagers who said they could not hope to meet the demand.

Government Response Under Fire

Initially, officials from the Kaduna State government and the Nigeria Police Force denied that the mass abductions had taken place, a denial that eroded public trust. The government only acknowledged the incident after the Chikun/Kajuru Active Citizens Congress (CKACC) published a list of the 177 alleged victims on January 21.

Following the publication, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani visited Kurmin Wali and pledged his administration’s commitment to securing the safe return of the abducted villagers.

Despite government claims that up to 80 of the Kurmin Wali captives had fled to neighbouring villages and returned home — a report first shared by Reuters — local church leaders contested the account. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) asserted that many more remained missing than officials had acknowledged. Ultimately, by February 5, members of the Nigerian military secured the release of those kidnapped in the Kurmin Wali raid without ransom payments, CAN reported.

However, the crisis did not end there. On January 25, gunmen struck again, abducting six more worshippers in Maraban Kajuru. As of the most recent updates, those six remain unaccounted for, and kidnappers have set a ransom of 70 million naira (approximately $52,000 USD) for their release.

A Widespread Crisis

The surge in kidnappings is not limited to Kaduna State. Across Nigeria’s northwest and central regions, both criminal gangs — often referred to locally as “bandits” — and Islamist militants have increasingly used abduction as a revenue stream and tactic of fear. Experts point to high youth unemployment, vast forest hideouts, and weak law enforcement in rural areas as factors enabling the rise in violence.

Kidnappings have also affected Christian communities in Kwara, Niger, and other states. Last year, gunmen abducted students from a Catholic school in Niger State just weeks before Christmas; most were returned only after the government threatened military action. In Kwara State, a pastor died after being held by kidnappers even after a ransom was reportedly paid.

Calls for Stronger Security Measures

Local leaders and families of victims have lamented the slow pace of government action and urged authorities to adopt more effective strategies. Enoch Kaura, chairman of CAN in Kajuru Local Government Area, said that involving community members in protection — including civilian intelligence networks and joint patrols alongside security forces — could help deter future attacks. Similar community-focused efforts have been used in parts of Borno State to disrupt insurgent movements.

“The government knows these kidnappings are chronic,” Kaura said. “They must act and include locals in solutions so that people can live without fear.”

Emotional Toll and Ongoing Uncertainty

For families left behind, the ordeal is agonizing. One woman, whose brother and sister‑in‑law were seized in the Maraban Kajuru attack, described waking each day with cautious hope yet growing despair as news remained elusive. Local officials visited to gather information and offer sympathy, but no concrete updates have emerged.

“We wake up hopeful, but it is difficult to sustain as the day grows,” she said.

Meanwhile, Na’allah — now safe but shattered by the ordeal — worries for his community’s future. Having lost much of his farm supplies after selling crops to help raise ransom funds during earlier kidnappings, he struggles to rebuild. He said villagers want assurance that they can return to their farms without fear of another attack.

“If the government can keep to its promise of ensuring security, then maybe we can return to our farms,” he said.

Broader Implications

The recent kidnappings highlight Nigeria’s escalating security challenges, particularly in rural regions where state presence is limited and militant or criminal groups operate with relative impunity. As religious leaders and local communities press for more robust protection and collaboration with security forces, families caught in the middle continue to pray for loved ones still missing and for a long‑term solution to the cycle of violence.