Dozens of kidnapped worshippers have safely returned to their communities in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna state following a violent abduction last month, according to official police confirmation. The victims were part of a larger group of 177 individuals seized by armed gunmen during coordinated raids on three churches in the remote village of Kurmin Wali.
Police spokesperson Mansur Hassan revealed to BBC that approximately 80 hostages managed to escape their captors on the very day of the kidnapping. However, these individuals remained hidden in neighboring villages for two weeks due to overwhelming fear of being recaptured. Authorities continue efforts to secure the release of the remaining 86 hostages still held by the unidentified armed group.
The initial police response drew significant criticism from human rights organizations after officials initially denied the abduction occurred. Amnesty International condemned what it called “desperate denial” by Nigerian authorities and urged immediate action to address the escalating kidnapping crisis that has become increasingly normalized across the country.
This incident reflects broader security challenges plaguing Africa’s most populous nation. Nigeria faces multiple overlapping crises including Islamist insurgencies in the northeast, separatist violence in the southeast, and persistent conflicts between herders and farmers in central regions. Security experts attribute the worsening situation to systemic corruption, inadequate intelligence sharing, and severely underfunded local police forces.
The security situation has attracted international attention, with the United States conducting airstrikes against Islamist militant camps in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day. Former President Donald Trump subsequently warned of additional military action if attacks against Christian communities continued.
Nigeria’s complex demographic landscape, with over 250 ethnic groups and a roughly divided Muslim north and Christian south, adds layers of complexity to the security crisis. The government maintains that individuals of all faiths have suffered from the widespread violence affecting the nation.