Mass kidnapping of worshippers in Nigeria: figures, context and official denial

In a new episode of violence in northern Nigeria, armed groups attacked several Christian churches during services on Sunday, January 18, 2026, kidnapping more than 160 people attending Mass in the village of Kurmin Wali, Kaduna State, according to local organizations and international news agencies.

Community leaders and representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that the assailants blocked the church entrances, forced the worshippers out, and then took them to nearby wooded areas. According to these accounts, up to 172 people were initially captured, although at least nine managed to escape, and other reports indicate that 166 or 167 people are still being held captive.

The attacks occurred at three different churches—including congregations of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the Cherubim & Seraphim movement—and affected men, women, and children present during the Sunday services.

Although community authorities have blamed armed militias linked to ethnic conflicts in the region, Kaduna State Police and federal government officials initially denied that a mass kidnapping had occurred, calling the reports inaccurate or disinformation.

This incident exacerbates the widespread sense of insecurity in central and northern Nigeria, where armed gangs have for years perpetrated kidnappings and attacks against civilians of all faiths, generally for ransom or to exert political pressure.

Human rights organizations and religious leaders are calling for greater protection for vulnerable communities and a more effective response from Nigerian security forces, which are facing escalating intercommunal, criminal, and extremist violence. The exact number and whereabouts of those kidnapped are still being verified by authorities and local groups.