Gunmen abducted over 150 worshippers during simultaneous attacks on three churches in the Kurmin Wali community of Kaduna state, Nigeria. The attacks targeted an ECWA church, a Cherubim and Seraphim church, and a Catholic church while services were in progress on Sunday. A local lawmaker reported that 168 worshippers remain missing after 11 people managed to return. No group has claimed responsibility for the abductions, which are common in northern Nigeria where armed gangs target remote areas. The Nigerian government rejects characterizations of the security crisis as a persecution of Christians.
about 2 months ago
Gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru district, Kaduna state, Nigeria, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, abducting worshippers during services.1 2
The targeted churches included the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), a Cherubim and Seraphim church, and a Catholic church.1 2
State lawmaker Usman Danlami Stingo reported 177 people missing initially, with 11 escaping, leaving 168 unaccounted for.1 4
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) cited 172 abducted, nine escaped, and 163 still captive.3
Kaduna state police initially denied the attacks, with Commissioner Muhammad Rabiu stating no evidence was found at the sites.3 4
Local government chairman Dauda Madaki also dismissed reports after consulting the village head.3
By Tuesday, January 20, police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident based on intelligence, retracting the denial to avoid panic.4
No group has claimed responsibility, amid challenges accessing the remote forest community.3
Residents and escapees, including village head Ishaku Dan’azumi, insisted the attacks occurred, accusing authorities of politicizing the incident.4
Afiniki Moses confirmed her husband and two children were among over 170 abducted from two churches.3
Local groups like Chikun/Kajuru Active Citizens Congress and CAN published unverified hostage lists.4
Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria reported being blocked from attack sites by security forces.4
Such mass abductions by "bandits" are common in northern Nigeria, exploiting weak security in rural areas.1 2 4
The violence contributes to Nigeria being labeled the deadliest country for Christians, though Muslims are also victims in a crisis involving Boko Haram, ISWAP, and criminal gangs.2 3
Recent incidents include a November school kidnapping in Kaduna, with over 300 freed after weeks.3 4
A U.S. strike on December 25 targeted alleged IS militants, amid accusations of Christian persecution denied by Nigeria.1 3 4
Amnesty International condemned police denials and government inaction on atrocities.4
Intersociety accused Nigerian authorities of complicity in anti-Christian violence, citing 185,000 civilian deaths since 2009.3
Pope Leo XIV highlighted the bloodshed affecting Christians and Muslims, linking it to a "war economy" of land disputes and arms trafficking.2
Christian advocates warn of escalating persecution amid kidnapping's economic scale, with thousands abducted yearly.2 3
Examine the Church’s response to armed persecution in Nigeria
The Catholic Church has responded to the armed persecution in Nigeria—marked by relentless attacks on Christian communities, massacres in places of worship, and widespread violence from groups like Boko Haram—with a consistent pattern of prayer, public condemnation, ecclesial solidarity, and advocacy for justice and peace. Drawing from papal appeals, episcopal statements, and international correspondence, the Church emphasizes spiritual intercession alongside urgent calls for governmental action, interfaith reconciliation, and empowerment of civil society, always rooted in the Gospel's demand for human dignity and the common good.
Popes have repeatedly raised their voices in direct appeals following specific atrocities, framing the violence as assaults on innocent lives and places of worship. In 2017, after a massacre inside a church in Nigeria, Pope Francis expressed deep distress, praying that "every form of hatred and violence may cease" and leading the faithful in a Hail Mary for Nigerian victims. Similarly, in 2021, following armed attacks on villages in northern Nigeria, he voiced sorrow for the dead and wounded, hoping "that the safety of every citizen may be guaranteed in the country."
These interventions echo earlier papal engagement. In 1998, Pope John Paul II addressed Nigeria's new ambassador to the Holy See, stressing that forgiveness does not negate justice: "forgiveness neither eliminates nor lessens the need for reparation which justice requires, but seeks to reintegrate individuals and groups into society." He praised the Nigerian government's response to appeals for political prisoners and urged the return of Church schools, highlighting the Church's longstanding contributions to education and healthcare amid tensions. Most recently, in 2025, Pope Leo XIV prayed specifically for "security, justice, and peace" in Nigeria, focusing on "rural Christian communities in the state of Benue, who have unceasingly been victims of violence." These appeals underscore the Church's role as a moral voice, invoking divine mercy while demanding accountability.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria has been at the forefront, issuing communiqués that detail the crisis's severity and propose solutions. Their 2024 plenary statement decried "unabated violence" by Boko Haram, Islamic State-West Africa Province, armed herdsmen, bandits, and kidnappers, resulting in around 3 million internally displaced persons. They attributed root causes to "pervasive corruption and endemic poverty and a massive failure of governance," declaring "insecurity has attained yet a higher scale than we had ever seen before."
The bishops called for decentralizing security to state police, investing in small businesses like agriculture, combating corruption, and addressing economic policies like fuel subsidy removal that exacerbate poverty. In June 2025, amid killings in Benue State, they declared nine days of prayer for peace, justice, and interfaith solidarity, condemning "relentless attacks on innocent and defenceless communities." This proactive stance positions the Nigerian Church as both witness and agent of change.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has expressed "profound sadness and steadfast ecclesial solidarity" with Nigeria, joining prayers and amplifying local calls. In a 2025 letter to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio echoed Pope Leo XIV's prayers and supported the nine days of prayer, beseeching God for "peace, justice, reconciliation, and fraternal solidarity between peoples of all faiths." He prayed for victims' souls and comfort for mourners.
Earlier, in 2024, the USCCB wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, endorsing Nigerian bishops' concerns and highlighting the Church's assets—Veritas University, justice commissions, and interfaith networks—to influence government and foster national rebirth. They urged U.S. engagement with local Church leadership to counter fragility in Africa's most populous nation, emphasizing partnership against violence and extremism. This reflects a global ecclesial network leveraging diplomatic channels for advocacy.
Beyond immediate responses, the Church integrates these crises into broader teachings on peace and arms control. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, in a 2023 UN statement, critiqued explosive weapons in populated areas causing civilian casualties, echoing Pope Francis: "war is often more enticing than peace... money earned from arms sales is thus money soiled with innocent blood." While not Nigeria-specific, this aligns with calls to shift from "collateral damage" to civilian protection.
The Church consistently promotes the common good, human development, and interfaith dialogue. Pope John Paul II noted Catholics' zeal in education and healthcare, fostering "universal brotherhood" and national pride. Nigerian bishops and USCCB partners stand ready to channel efforts against corruption and for inclusive governance. This holistic approach balances mercy with justice, avoiding vengeance while insisting on reparation and rehabilitation.
In summary, the Catholic Church's response to Nigeria's armed persecution is spiritually fervent—through prayers and Masses—prophetically bold in condemning violence, and practically engaged via advocacy, solidarity, and proposed reforms. It calls all to pursue peace with courage, entrusting ultimate healing to God while working tirelessly for justice on earth.