Numerous members from at least two churches in Nigeria were taken hostage by armed men during Sunday services, according to reports from Reuters.
Kaduna state police stated on Monday, referencing preliminary estimates, that dozens had been kidnapped, but church officials suggested that the number exceeded 160. This incident marks yet another episode in a long series of religiously motivated kidnappings in Nigeria, as both Christian and Muslim communities suffer from the ongoing violence. Often, Muslim Fulani militants target these communities, seeking ransom and damaging their economies.
Authorities reported that gunmen equipped with advanced weapons struck two churches in the village of Kurumin Warri around 11:25 a.m. on Sunday. Pastor John Hayabu, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the north, relayed information from church elders, indicating that 172 congregants were stolen away, while nine managed to escape. It’s common for initial security assessments to be conservative, but community leaders often provide higher estimates, leading to considerable variations in casualty numbers soon after such mass kidnappings.
Efforts are underway, as the police indicated that military and security forces have been dispatched to locate the abductors and ensure the captives’ release. Nigeria has increasingly faced a wave of attacks from armed factions, particularly Islamic extremists, who typically operate from forest hideouts and launch assaults on villages, schools, and places of worship.
In a report set for 2025, Nigeria is projected to be identified as the global center for killings of Christians because of their beliefs, as per the Open Doors World Watch List. While Muslims also face violence, Christians are described as being disproportionately targeted, with one in five Christians in Africa experiencing significant persecution.
In November, 52 individuals, including students and staff from St. Mary’s School, were abducted by armed forces. Earlier, in April, the Evangelical Church Winning All revealed it had paid a ransom of approximately $205,000 for the safe return of about 50 members kidnapped in Kaduna.
