Conflicting Reports Arise Over Alleged Abduction of Church Members in Kaduna State

Residents of Kurmin Wali, a community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have claimed that they were jolted awake early Sunday following reports that scores of church worshippers were abducted during a church service. Nigerian security agencies, however, have come out to debunk these abduction claims, denying that any kidnapping took place.

The alleged incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Sunday, when gunmen stormed two churches in the area, ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Church, forcing worshippers to flee as the service was abruptly disrupted.

An eyewitness who was present at the ECWA Church described the attack as sudden and chaotic.

“It was around 10 a.m. on Sunday. I was in our ECWA church when we suddenly heard gunshots everywhere,” the witness said. “The gunmen were shouting that everyone should lie down or be killed.”

“Some wore black robes with black head turbans, while others wore shabby-looking Nigerian Army camouflage uniforms,” he said.

The witness said he and his son managed to escape through a window during the confusion.

“It was while they were marching us out that I bolted through a window, and my son followed me,” he said. “To our surprise, they did not pursue us or fire at us. Maybe the Lord Jesus blinded them from seeing us.”

He added that after escaping, he saw the gunmen leading several worshippers toward Rijana, a nearby area.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru LGA, Enoch Kaura, said 172 people were initially abducted, but nine later escaped, leaving 163 still in captivity.

“The attack occurred while members were in the middle of the service. The bandits arrived in large numbers, blocked the church entrance, and forced the congregation into the bush,” Kaura said.

“It has been confirmed that 172 people were abducted, including men, women and children. With nine individuals having escaped, 163 people remain in captivity.”

Similarly, Rev. Joseph Hayab, a leader of CAN, told AFP that the attackers came in large numbers, blocked the church entrances and forced worshippers into the bush.

However, the reports have been strongly denied by security authorities and local government officials.

The Kaduna State Police Command dismissed the incident as false. Police spokesperson ASP Muhammad Rabiu described the reports as untrue.

The Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, also denied that any mass abduction occurred. He said that after hearing the reports, he deployed security personnel to the area and found no evidence of an attack. According to him, the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, confirmed that there was no such incident.

These denials contradict accounts from eyewitnesses and other residents of the community.

A member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Danlami Usman Stingo, who represents the area, described the incident as the largest mass kidnapping in Kaduna’s history, adding that the community is known to be heavily affected by banditry.

For now, details surrounding the incident remain unclear, with conflicting accounts from residents, religious leaders, local authorities and security agencies.

While some officials insist the abduction claims are false and politically motivated, others maintain that the incident occurred and is being downplayed to divert attention from the rising cases of insecurity in the state.

As of this time, there is no independently verified confirmation of the incident beyond eyewitness accounts and statements from community and religious leaders.