The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the kidnapping of 177 church worshippers following coordinated attacks on three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, reversing its earlier denial of the incident.
The abduction reportedly took place on Sunday, 18 January 2026, when gunmen attacked congregations attending services across three denominations — including Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Cherubim & Seraphim churches — before whisking away uncounted worshippers into surrounding forests.
Police Acknowledgement After Initial Contradiction
In a press statement issued on 20 January 2026, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, acknowledged the “deep concern generated by reports of an abduction incident at Kurmin Wali” and noted that “subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur.”
The statement explained that conflicting assertions emerged after the Governor convened the Kaduna State Security Council, and some local authorities at the meeting described earlier police confirmations as falsehoods, resulting in “uncertainty” that compelled the Police to verify facts cautiously.
Addressing the earlier denial, the Force noted that remarks by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, were “intended to prevent unnecessary panic while facts were being confirmed” and that they were “not a denial of the incident but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field.”
Earlier Denials and Conflicting Claims
On Monday, 19 January 2026, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, dismissed reports of the mass abduction as “falsehoods” being spread by what he described as “conflict entrepreneurs” aiming to disrupt the state’s peace, insisting that the claims lacked evidence and challenging anyone to “come forward with names and particulars of the victims.”
Local government authorities, including Dauda Madaki, Chairman of Kajuru LGA, also initially supported this denial, asserting that security operatives had visited the community and found no signs of an attack.
However, rights groups and independent sources presented contrary accounts.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide-Nigeria (CSW-N) alleged that its fact-finding team was blocked from accessing Kurmin Wali by soldiers, despite presenting proper identification, and that survivors and community sources confirmed the mass kidnapping.
Names of Victims Released
On Wednesday, 21 January 2026, Sebastine Barde, President of the Adara Development Association (ADA), published a list of 177 identities of those abducted.
The list indicates repeated surnames, suggesting that entire households were taken together. Among those abducted, the oldest victim is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest is five-year-old Salvation Idris.
Well-known family losses include the Amos household with 13 members and the Jonathan family with 12 members among those listed.
See full list below:
- Samson Naallah
- Ezekiel Naallah
- Christopher Naallah
- Martin Samson
- Moses Samson
- Clever Godwin
- Jerusalem Chindo
- Markus Markus
- Benjamin Markus
- Albert Markus
- Ofelana Markus
- Linus Markus
- Hassana Linus
- Ojo Bamboya
- Esther Ojo
- Mary Jonathan
- George Jonathan
- Careful Jonathan
- EF James
- Morin Boniface
- Junior James
- Happiness Jonathan
- Honest Jonathan
- Honesty Jonathan
- Faith Luka
- Beauty Luka
- Junior Luka
- Rosemary Luka
- Dorothy Luka
- Selina Luka
- Alice Bamboya
- Magdalena Godwin
- Hassan Ishaya
- Lazarus Ishaya
- Marta Ishaya
- Zummunta Ishaya
- Salvation Ishaya
- Susana Linus
- Jummal Linus
- Peace Joshua
- Zahaya Joshua
- Nabilah Makudi
43.Hajara Makudi
- Rebecca Hosea
- Ahmad Ahmad
- Liyu Ezekiel
- Vivian Ezekiel
- Goodluck Ezekiel
- Beauty Ezekiel
- Matina Maiyashi
- Bridget Maiyashi
- Vivian Linus
- Mary Amos
- Hamid Amos
- Patricia Amos
- Hamisu Amos
- Luka Amos
- Tacy Amos
- Cynthia Amos
- Mercy Isaac
- Augustine Makudi
- Matthew Samaila
- Adam Musa
- Malika Sule
- Abu Ahmad
- Hussein Lucky
- Akinyi Sadiu
- Dangata Amos
- Helen Jonathan
- Asinwa Jonathan
- Faith Joseph
- Gloria Kennet
- Happiness Danisa
- Fidelis Jacob
- Tobias Markus
- Istu Paul
- Hassana Paul
- Charity Chindo
- Christiana Danisa
- Everest Danima
- Thomas Philip
- Catrina Danbosi
- Halima Hassan
- Hassan Lukumi
- Mary Sadiu
- Franca John
- Henry Danbiyi
- Ayuba Lawal
- Solomon Ayuba
- Theophilus Danlami
- Charles Sambo
- Rahila Charles
- Gambo Danisa
- Talent Danisa
- Nehemiah Danjuma
- Maijima Shekarau
- Matina Maijima
- Laraba Maijima
- Musa Danjuma
- Ishaya Danima
- Lulu Danisa
- Clement Ahmad
- Destiny Ahmad
- Nehemiah Ishaya
- Simon Ishaya
- Nasty Muku
- Helena Joseph
- Joseph Bawa
- Sarah Joseph
- Bulus Mariya
- Musa Samaila
- Bulus Bawa
- Halima Bawa
- Beture Hosea
- Sati Hosea
- Titus John
- Dogara Bawa
- Lories Bawa
- Adamu Aminu
- Ezekiel Adamu
- Tenah Markus
- Tina Danbosi
- Patricio Bawa
- Janet Tsuda
- Amina Danjuma
- Sandra Danbosi
- Bridget Sunday
- Saphat Innocent
- Alex Sunday
- Beauty Peter
- Samisa Paul
- Joy Joseph
- Methole Johanna
- Genesis Johanna
- Maria Johanna
- Merozdu Adonu
- Karimi Jangbe
- Sunday Martela
- Santina Hershinga
- Keuna Michael
- Hassan Bulus
- Marzeta Maisoni
- Mainwa Dominic
- Godwin Karimi
- Amos Akijo
- Nathan Amos
- Joseph Chindo
- Lydia Godwin
- Hamna Maiyangi
- Toletu Maiyangi
- Esther Godday
- Godswill Godday
- Godlive Samson
- Goodluck Aliga
- Madaki Tabawa
- Tabawa Abba
- Tabawa Iyamye
- Samuel Amos
- Daniel Amos
- Deborah Amos
- Ruth Amos
- Emmanuel Danjuma
- Joshua Danjuma
- Rejoice Danisa
- Blessing Danisa
- Ibrahim Lawal
- Zainab Lawal
- Sadiq Ahmad
- Aisha Ahmad
- Yakubu Musa
- Suleiman Musa
- Rahama Musa
- Daniel Jonathan
- Samuel Jonathan
- Peter Jonathan
- Grace Jonathan
Security Operations and Rescue Efforts
Following confirmation of the abduction, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has directed “full deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.”
The Police say this includes deployment of tactical units, intensified patrols, and targeted search-and-rescue operations aimed at “locating and safely rescuing the victims and restoring calm to the area.”
The Force appealed to the public and media to “rely on official police communications for verified information and to avoid speculation or sensational reporting that could jeopardise ongoing operations or heighten public anxiety.”
Reaction by Obi
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, condemned the incident as “yet another unfortunate consequence of a nation where insecurity has been allowed to grow, unchecked and unchallenged.”
He criticised the government’s priorities, saying that “a government that can mobilise resources for everything else, but cannot secure communities or protect its people, has misplaced its priorities.”
He vowed solidarity with the families of the abducted and called on authorities to act decisively to ensure their safe release.
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