Confusion Over Alleged Kidnap of 172 Worshippers in Kaduna Churches
KADUNA, Nigeria (FN) — Confusion has gripped Kaduna State after church leaders reported that 172 worshippers were abducted from three churches during Sunday services, while state authorities and police denied that any such incident occurred.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said armed men stormed churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, and took worshippers into nearby forests. Rev. John Hayab, chairman of CAN’s Northern chapter, said nine people escaped while 163 remain missing.
Witnesses described gunmen firing shots to terrify congregants before rounding them up. The attacks reportedly targeted Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim churches, sparking panic across southern Kaduna, a region long plagued by bandit violence.
State officials quickly rejected the claims. Kaduna Commissioner of Police Muhammad Rabiu said investigators found no evidence of such kidnappings. Kajuru LGA Chairman Dauda Madaki also dismissed the reports, calling them “falsehoods” spread by “conflict entrepreneurs.”
The conflicting accounts have fueled anxiety among residents. Many in southern Kaduna say they distrust official denials, pointing to repeated attacks in recent years on villages, schools and churches by armed groups seeking ransom.
Hayab insisted the abductions were real, saying church elders had confirmed the numbers. “We cannot keep quiet when our people are taken in such large numbers,” he said, urging authorities to act swiftly to secure their release.
Security analysts say the confusion reflects Nigeria’s broader struggle with banditry and weak state response. Remote terrain and poor roads often hinder rapid police deployment, leaving communities vulnerable and reliant on self-reporting.
The alleged kidnappings come amid heightened tensions between Christian communities and government officials, with accusations that authorities downplay attacks to avoid political fallout. Human rights groups have urged independent verification of the incident.
Kidnappings for ransom have become common in northwestern Nigeria, with armed groups targeting schools, highways and places of worship. The scale of the alleged Kaduna abduction, if confirmed, would mark one of the largest single incidents in recent years.
For now, the fate of the worshippers remains unclear. As residents demand answers, the dispute underscores the fragile security situation in Kaduna and the widening credibility gap between local communities and state authorities.
