Gunmen Abduct More Than 160 Worshippers in Nigeria

Armed bandits attacked two churches in Kaduna State, Nigeria, on Sunday, abducting large numbers of worshippers, police and local church leaders said on Monday.

Officials said gunmen armed with “sophisticated weapons” intercepted congregants in the Kurmin Wali area of Afogo ward during morning services, forcing victims into the bush. Kaduna police confirmed that dozens were taken but said final figures were still being verified as security forces continued to assess the situation.

Reverend Joseph Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the country’s north, said the attackers came in numbers and blocked the entrance of the churches, forcing the worshippers out into the bush. The actual number taken was 172, but nine escaped, leaving 163 in captivity, Hayab said.

A United Nations security report seen on Monday also noted more than 100 were abducted.
The gunmen raided the two churches during Sunday mass in Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru district.
Armed gangs, known in Nigeria as bandits, frequently carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and loot villages mainly in the northern and central parts of the country.

In November, armed gangs seized more than 300 students and teachers from a Catholic school in Niger state. They were released weeks later in two batches.

The incident underscores the persistence of security challenges in parts of northwest Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently target rural communities, places of worship and travellers. Residents and leaders have called for increased protection amid a spate of kidnappings and violent raids.

SOURCE: AFP