Kaduna Abductions: Names of 177 Worshippers Released Amid Conflicting Official Accounts

Kaduna Abductions: Names of 177 Worshippers Released Amid Conflicting Official Accounts

A detailed list containing the names of 177 abducted worshippers in Kaduna State has been released by community leaders, intensifying public concern over church abductions and the wider security crisis in northern Nigeria.

The list, which reportedly includes men, women and children, was published after security agencies initially denied reports of a mass kidnapping during church services in communities within Kajuru Local Government Area. Community representatives say the victims were seized by armed bandits who stormed several churches during worship and escaped into nearby forests.

Religious leaders and residents insist the abductions occurred simultaneously across multiple congregations, prompting them to make the names public to counter official skepticism and draw urgent attention to the plight of affected families. They described the incident as one of the largest church-related abductions in the state in recent months.

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Following public outcry, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun reportedly ordered the deployment of tactical security units to the area, while search-and-rescue operations are said to be ongoing. Authorities say investigations are underway to verify the list and locate the abducted worshippers.

The Kaduna incident comes amid a spike in mass kidnappings, attacks on worship centres, and rural banditry across Nigeria’s northwest, renewing calls from civil society groups for improved intelligence gathering, faster emergency response and better protection for vulnerable communities.

Families of those listed have appealed for urgent government intervention, as pressure mounts on security agencies to reconcile conflicting statements and secure the safe release of the abducted worshippers.

Kaduna Abductions: Names of 177 Worshippers Released Amid Conflicting Official Accounts