Armed gangs, locally referred to as “bandits,” carried out a mass abduction in Nigeria’s Kadunastate, kidnapping numerous worshippers from two churches. Local police reported that gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the churches in Kurmin Wali, a forest community in Afogo ward, around 11:25 a.m. local time on Sunday.

Rev Joseph Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the country’s north, confirmed that the attackers blocked church entrances and forced the worshippers into the surrounding bush. According to information from church elders, 172 worshippers were abducted, while nine managed to escape during the incident.

Rising Kidnappings and Security Challenges in Nigeria

This incident is the latest in a series of mass kidnappings that have plagued Nigeria, where criminal gangs frequently target both Christians and Muslims in northern and central regions, often for ransom payments. Similar large-scale abductions include a November event in which over 300 students and teachers were seized from a Catholic school; the hostages were later released in two groups, making international headlines.

Nigeria is also contending with other complex security challenges, including an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, separatist violence in the south-east, and clashes between herders and farmers in the central region over land and water. Experts cite systemic issues such as corruption, underfunded policing, and poor intelligence sharing as major obstacles to resolving these crises.

International Response and Government Measures

Amid rising insecurity, Nigeria’s defence minister resigned last month, officially citing health reasons. The United States has also taken military action, conducting airstrikes on Christmas Day against two Islamist militant camps in north-western Nigeria. Earlier in the month, US President Donald Trump warned of further strikes if attacks against Christians continued.

Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, broadly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and largely Christian south, with mixed populations in central areas. Responding to Trump’s warning, Alkasim Abdulkadir, a Nigerian foreign ministry spokesman, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to protecting all citizens, both Christians and Muslims, without discrimination, emphasizing that people of all faiths have been victims of these attacks.