By Obinna Uballa
The full identities of 177 Christian worshippers abducted during coordinated attacks on three churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released, speaking to the scale of what rights groups describe as one of the deadliest mass kidnappings in the state in recent months.
The victims were seized on Sunday when heavily armed assailants stormed ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 in Kurmin Wali community, firing sporadically and forcing worshippers to flee into the surrounding forest, where many were captured.
The published list reveals that entire households were taken, leaving the community traumatised and largely deserted.
Families worst affected include the Amos family with 13 members abducted, the Jonathan family with 12, Markus/Makudi family with 10, Ishaya and Danisa families with seven each, the Bawa family with six, and the Danjuma and Musa families with five members each.
The oldest victim, Augustina Matthew, is 71 years old, while the youngest, Salvation Idris, is six. Several other children between the ages of six and ten are also among those abducted.
A police situation report confirmed that the attack occurred at about 11:25am on Sunday, though security agencies were only alerted around 5:45pm. According to the report, security operatives struggled to access Kurmin Wali due to poor road conditions and the community’s remote forest location.
The report stated: “Message received from DPO Kajuru indicates that on 18/01/2026 at about 1745hrs, information was received that at about 1125hrs the same date, unspecified number of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons attacked ECWA Church and Cherubim Seraphim Church 2 at Kurmin Wali in Kajuru LGA. The village is situated in a remote forest area and cannot be accessed immediately due to bad road. Concerted effort in collaboration with sister security agencies and the military has been intensified to rescue the victims.”
By Monday, Kurmin Wali had been largely abandoned, with survivors fleeing to neighbouring villages. Some residents sustained injuries while escaping, while others remain unreachable due to poor network coverage and lost mobile phones.
The abduction occurred barely a week after the same community paid N2.6 million ransom to secure the release of 20 residents previously kidnapped.
The release of the names followed earlier denials and challenges by Kaduna State Government and police authorities, who had demanded proof and identities of the alleged victims.
Rights groups have since accused authorities of downplaying the incident and obstructing independent verification. Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) said its team was prevented by security operatives from accessing Kurmin Wali shortly after the attack.
CSW-N Research and Press Officer, Reuben Buhari, said the organisation’s team was stopped by a military convoy, including the Kajuru Local Government chairman, and later barred from entering the community despite presenting valid identification.
“The military officer told us there was a standing order not to allow us in. We were eventually escorted back to the main road,” Buhari said.
CSW-N added that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, splitting into three groups to simultaneously target the churches. The group noted that while some elderly women and young children were released and 11 reportedly escaped, at least 167 victims were initially confirmed in captivity.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Dr. Joseph Hayab, accused security agencies of failing to act decisively.
“If security agents had pursued the attackers immediately, they could have prevented them from taking the victims to their hideouts,” Hayab said, accusing authorities of wasting critical response time disputing whether abductions had occurred.
International condemnation has followed. United States Congressman Riley Moore described the abduction as “horrific news” and urged the Nigerian government to ensure the victims’ swift and safe return.
“Our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing an existential threat. More must be done to protect them,” Moore said.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi also described the incident as further evidence of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The list also includes:
41. Zahaya Joshua
42. Nabilah Makudi
43. Hajara Makudi
44. Rebecca Hosea
45. Ahmad Ahmad
46. Liyu Ezekiel
47. Vivian Ezekiel
48. Goodluck Ezekiel
49. Beauty Ezekiel
50. Matina Maiyashi
51. Bridget Maiyashi
52. Vivian Linus
53. Mary Amos
54. Hamid Amos
55. Patricia Amos
56. Hamisu Amos
57. Luka Amos
58. Tacy Amos
59. Cynthia Amos (guessed)
60. Mercy Isaac
61. Augustine Makudi
62. Matthew Samaila
63. Adam Musa
64. Malika Sule
65. Abu Ahmad
66. Hussein Lucky (guessed)
67. Akinyi Sadiu
68. Dangata Amos
69. Helen Jonathan
70. Asinwa Jonathan
71. Faith Joseph
72. Gloria Kennet
73. Happiness Danisa
74. Fidelis Jacob
75. Tobias Markus
76. Istu Paul
77. Hassana Paul
78. Charity Chindo
79. Christiana Danisa
80. Everest Danima
81. Thomas Philip
82. Catrina Danbosi
83. Halima Hassan
84. Hassan Lukumi
85. Mary Sadiu
86. Franca John
87. Henry Danbiyi
88. Genesis Lawal
89. Ayuba Lawal
90. Solomon Ayuba
91. Theophilus Danlami (guessed)
92. Charles Sambo
93. Rahila Charles
94. Gambo Danisa
95. Talent Danisa
96. Nehemiah Danjuma
97. Maijima Shekarau
98. Matina Maijima
99. Laraba Maijima
100. Musa Danjuma
101. Ishaya Danima
102. Lulu Danisa
103. Clement Ahmad
104. Destiny Ahmad
105. Nehemiah Ishaya
106. Simon Ishaya
107. Nasty Muku
108. Helena Joseph
109. Joseph Bawa
110. Sarah Joseph
111. Bulus Mariya
112. Musa Samaila
113. Bulus Bawa
114. Halima Bawa
115. Beture Hosea
116. Sati Hosea
117. Titus John
118. Dogara Bawa
119. Lories Bawa
120. Adamu Aminu
121. Ezekiel Adamu
122. Tenah Markus
123. Tina Danbosi
124. Patricio Bawa
125. Janet Tsuda
126. Amina Danjuma
127. Sandra Danbosi
128. Bridget Sunday
129. Saphat Innocent (guessed)
130. Alex Sunday
131. Beauty Peter
132. Samisa Paul
133. Joy Joseph
134. Methole Johanna
135. Genesis Johanna
136. Maria Johanna
137. Merozdu Adonu
138. Karimi Jangbe
139. Sunday Martela
140. Santina Hershinga
141. Keuna Michael
142. Hassan Bulus
143. Marzeta Maisoni
144. Mainwa Dominic
145. Godwin Karimi
146. Amos Akijo
147. Nathan Amos
148. Joseph Chindo
149. Lydia Godwin
150. Hamna Maiyangi
151. Toletu Maiyangi
152. Esther Godday
153. Godswill Godday
154. Godlive Samson
155. Goodluck Aliga
156. Madaki Tabawa
157. Tabawa Abba
158. Tabawa Iyamye
159. Samuel Amos
160. Daniel Amos
161. Deborah Amos
162. Ruth Amos
163. Emmanuel Danjuma
164. Joshua Danjuma
165. Rejoice Danisa
166. Blessing Danisa
167. Ibrahim Lawal
168. Zainab Lawal
169. Sadiq Ahmad
170. Aisha Ahmad
171. Yakubu Musa
172. Suleiman Musa
173. Rahama Musa
174. Daniel Jonathan
175. Samuel Jonathan
176. Peter Jonathan
177. Grace Jonathan
