January 21, 2026, 2:32 p.mJanuary 21, 2026, 2:32 p.m
Gunmen kidnapped more than 160 worshipers from three churches in a village in Nigeria.
Authorities in Kaduna state, in the northwest of Africa’s most populous country, initially described Sunday’s attack as a lie for days and threatened penalties for alleged false reports. Only after public pressure did the police confirm that the incident had actually occurred after “verification by operational units and intelligence sources.”.
Residents of the village of Kurmi Wali told the German Press Agency (dpa) that a total of 177 people were kidnapped during church services. Eleven of them were able to escape, 166 were held. The information is consistent with reports from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The attackers came on motorcycles and shot indiscriminately at the three churches during the attack. After the attack, the alleged kidnappers called the village and demanded 17 motorcycles. The villagers expect ransom demands.
Nigeria: Attack on 3 churches and abduction of 166 people
The Nigerian authorities must ensure that all the 166 people abducted from three churches at Kurmin Wali village of Kajuru local area council Kaduna nothern Nigeria are safely and securely rescued and reunited with their… pic.twitter.com/JijF2S0FAm
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) January 20, 2026
Authorities fear damage to their image – and further US air strikes
Both Islamist terrorist groups and armed criminal gangs are active in northern and central Nigeria, kidnapping thousands of people every year to extort money or the release of members. The police and military cannot get the situation under control. Conflicts in the country, which is half Christian and half Muslim, are increasingly running along religious dividing lines, which are usually not the actual cause.
Although the majority of victims are Muslims, attacks on Christians are increasingly coming into international focus. The US military carried out airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria at Christmas, which, according to President Donald Trump, were aimed at fighters from the terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS) who are accused of murdering Christians. Trump threatened further strikes if the “slaughter” of Christians continued.
Villagers reported Government officials urged them not to make the incident publicas reporting on the kidnappings was giving Kaduna State a bad image. Reuben Buhari from the Christian organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria told dpa that soldiers prevented him from entering the village when he wanted to investigate the attack. (rbu/sda/dpa)