- One survivour recounted how he escaped while other worshippers were forced into the forest
- A village head also corroborated reports of abducted worshippers and detailed injuries suffered by escapees
- Earlier reports suggested over 100 worshippers were kidnapped
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, visited a church in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area, following a recent armed assault that left the community in fear and mourning.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the attack, which targeted multiple churches and nearby villages in southern Kaduna, reportedly involved abductions of worshippers, although official statements have been inconsistent.
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The police chief, accompanied by heavily armed officers, reportedly instructed all present to switch off their phones, warning against taking photos or recording videos during the inspection. He also visited the surrounding areas affected by the attacks.
Eyewitnesses and victims described the violence in chilling detail. One survivor, wearing a yellow jersey and showing visible head injuries, recounted how he escaped while other worshippers were forced into the forest.
“When we reached a narrow area between houses, I managed to escape by entering one and locking the door,” he told investigators. The victim explained that the attack started suddenly while worshippers were inside the ECWA church. “I carried my daughter and tried to run, but one of the bandits threatened to kill me,” he added.
The victim confirmed that other abducted worshippers had been beaten and marched into the bush along with people kidnapped from different locations. “They did not ask questions; they just kept beating us,” he said, describing how he eventually escaped by hiding in a house before fleeing into the forest.
Residents of Kurmin Wali expressed outrage at what they described as repeated security lapses in rural southern Kaduna. Many questioned the commissioner’s ban on phone recordings during the visit, suggesting it could prevent proper documentation of the attacks and victims’ conditions. Families of the missing remain anxious, with no official updates on rescue operations.
This attack is part of a wider wave of violence targeting churches and rural communities in Kaduna State. Activists who visited the area confirmed that at least 11 worshippers escaped, contradicting state government claims that no abductions took place. A village head also corroborated reports of abducted worshippers and detailed injuries suffered by escapees.
Earlier reports suggested over 100 worshippers were kidnapped during Sunday services across multiple churches in Kurmin Wali. Rev. John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Northern States chapter, stated that 172 people were taken, of which some have returned, leaving 163 still in captivity. The Kaduna State Government, however, has maintained that no Christians were abducted during the attacks.
The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Kaduna State, particularly in remote communities, and underscores growing concerns over government and police responses to repeated attacks.
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