News
Sunday worship turns to terror as 163 are abducted in Nigeria
A Sunday service turns into a nightmare
Sunday mornings in rural northern Nigeria are usually quiet. Church bells, dusty roads, families walking together. In parts of Kaduna State, that familiar rhythm was shattered when armed gangs stormed churches mid-service and forced worshippers into the surrounding bush.
By the end of the attacks, at least 163 people were confirmed to be in captivity. Clergy members and community leaders say the number taken was even higher, with several managing to escape during the chaos. What should have been a day of worship became one of fear and disbelief.
How the abductions unfolded
According to church leaders in the region, the attackers arrived in large numbers, sealing off church entrances before rounding up congregants. Reverend Joseph Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the north said the gangs initially seized more than 170 people, with nine later escaping.
Local traditional leaders in Kurmin Wali described similar scenes across multiple churches in the same area. In total, three churches were targeted during Sunday services, suggesting a coordinated operation rather than a random raid.
Security reporting prepared for the United Nations also confirmed that armed groups attacked several churches and abducted well over 100 worshippers.
Official denials fuel local anger
Despite consistent accounts from clergy and village leaders, authorities offered conflicting responses. Kaduna State police said officers visited the alleged crime scene but claimed there was no confirmed information about kidnappings. The state’s commissioner for internal security went further, calling reports of the abductions false.
That response has angered residents. Community leaders insist the kidnappings are real and part of a long pattern of violence that authorities have failed to stop. In many villages, families quietly pool money to pay ransoms themselves rather than report smaller abductions.
This time, leaders say the number taken was simply too large to handle alone.
Living under constant threat
For people in affected villages, kidnappings have become a grim feature of daily life. Armed groups regularly raid communities, abduct residents, burn homes, and disrupt farming. Local chiefs say fear has reduced food production, as farmers are too scared to work their land.
These gangs, commonly known in Nigeria as bandits, operate mainly for profit. Kidnapping for ransom has evolved into an organised industry, generating millions of dollars in recent years. Victims include Christians and Muslims alike, underscoring that the violence is criminal at its core, even when it appears religious.
A wider crisis across northern Nigeria
Kaduna is not alone. Several northwestern and central states have been battling bandit violence for years. The Kajuru district in Kaduna has become a hotspot, with tensions worsened by competition over land and shrinking natural resources.
In late 2025, more than 300 students and teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State, a reminder that places of learning and worship are increasingly vulnerable.
International attention has also intensified. The United States has applied diplomatic pressure on Nigeria over insecurity and recently approved air strikes targeting militant groups in the northwest.
Why this story matters beyond Nigeria
These church abductions are not just another headline. They reflect how insecurity has reshaped everyday life for millions of Nigerians. Worship, school, and farming, once safe routines, now carry real risk.
For local communities, the fear is deeply personal. For the country, it is a test of whether authorities can regain control from criminal networks that thrive on silence and denial.
Until that happens, Sunday mornings in parts of Nigeria will remain anything but peaceful.
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: IOL
Featured Image: The Manila Times
