Gunmen carried out coordinated attacks on three churches in northwestern Nigeria, abducting more than 150 worshippers in a single incident, according to a state lawmaker who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.
The assaults took place on Sunday in Kurmin Wali, a community located in the Kajuru area of Kaduna, while religious services were in progress. Worshippers were attending Sunday services and a Mass at three different churches when the attackers struck simultaneously. The affected places of worship included the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), another church affiliated with the Cherubim and Seraphim denomination, and a Catholic Church, according to Usman Danlami Stingo, who represents the area in the state legislature.
Providing an update on the situation, Stingo said that by Sunday evening, 177 people had initially been reported missing following the attacks. Of that number, 11 individuals later managed to return, leaving 168 worshippers still unaccounted for. He described the situation as deeply alarming for the affected communities, where families continue to wait anxiously for news of their loved ones.
As of Monday, police authorities in Kaduna state had not issued an official statement on the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. Such attacks, however, have become increasingly common across parts of Nigeria, particularly in remote and rural areas where security forces have limited presence and communities are more vulnerable.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been grappling with persistent insecurity driven by a mix of criminal gangs, armed groups, and extremist factions. These groups frequently target villages, highways, and places of worship, often abducting civilians for ransom or to exert control over territory. The country’s northern regions have borne the brunt of this violence in recent years, with repeated incidents of mass kidnappings and deadly raids.
Previous attacks on churches have also drawn international attention and political controversy. Some US politicians, including Donald Trump, have alleged that Christians in Nigeria are being systematically persecuted. In a related development, the United States launched military strikes in Sokoto on December 25, reportedly targeting an Islamic State-linked group operating in the region.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims that the ongoing violence amounts to a “Christian genocide,” arguing instead that the country is facing a broader security crisis that affects people of all faiths and communities. Officials have maintained that the violence is driven by criminality and insurgency rather than a targeted religious campaign, even as incidents like the mass abduction in Kurmin Wali continue to heighten fear and uncertainty across the region.
