Kaduna Church Abduction: Names of 177 kidnapped worshippers emerge

The identities of the 177 worshippers abducted from ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have emerged, revealing the scale of a raid that wiped out entire families and left the community traumatised.

The abduction occurred on Sunday during church services, barely one week after residents reportedly paid N2.6 million ransom to secure the release of 20 persons previously kidnapped from the same community.

Findings by Vanguard show that the list of victims paints a grim picture of households taken wholesale from their homes and places of worship, leaving Kurmin Wali virtually deserted.

Despite initial denials by government officials and security agencies, a police situation report obtained by Vanguard confirmed that the attack did take place.

Police Confirm Attack

According to the report, information was received at about 5:45pm on Sunday, indicating that the attack occurred earlier in the day at around 11:25am.

It stated that armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, stormed the churches, firing sporadically and forcing worshippers to flee into surrounding forests.

“The DPO mobilised sister security agencies and the military to the scene, but access was delayed due to poor road conditions,” the report noted, adding that investigations had commenced and efforts to rescue the victims were ongoing.

Village Deserted

As of Monday, Kurmin Wali was largely deserted, with survivors fleeing to nearby communities to seek refuge with relatives and friends.

Those injured while escaping were said to be in shock, while poor network coverage and lost mobile phones made it difficult to reach many of them for comment.

Entire Families Abducted

An analysis of the victims’ list revealed that entire households were taken.

Among them were:

Jonathan family – 12 members

Amos family – 13 members

Markus/Makudi family – 10 members

Ishaya and Danisa families – seven each

Bawa family – six members

Danjuma and Musa families – five each

The oldest victim is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest, Salvation Idris, is just six years old.

Other children abducted include Likita Amos (6), Jumota Idris (7), Tessy Amos (8), Yahaya Joshua (9), and several 10-year-olds.

Rights Groups Fault Denials

The initial denial of the incident by government officials drew sharp criticism from rights groups.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) insisted the abduction occurred and accused security agents of obstructing independent verification.

CSW-N’s Research and Press Officer, Reuben Buhari, said the organisation’s team was prevented from accessing the community shortly after the attack.

“They later refused to allow our team entry, despite full identification. We were told there was a standing order not to let us in,” Buhari said.

CSW-N added that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, split into three groups and attacked the churches simultaneously.

The group said elderly women and young children were later released, while 11 reportedly escaped, leaving 167 persons in captivity at the time.

CAN Accuses Security Agencies

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the FCT, Rev. Dr. Joseph Hayab, accused security agencies of failing to pursue the attackers.

“If security agents had gone after the bandits immediately, they would not have escaped with so many victims,” Hayab said.

International, Political Reactions

Reacting, US Congressman Riley Moore described the abduction as “horrific” and urged the Nigerian government to ensure the safe return of the victims.

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi also condemned the incident, describing it as another sign of unchecked insecurity.

“Nigeria deserves a government that treats human life as sacred,” Obi said, calling for urgent action to rescue the abducted worshippers.

Earlier Kujama Abduction

Earlier on Sunday, bandits reportedly attacked Kujama community, also in Southern Kaduna, abducting a nursing mother, another woman and a child, while abandoning a three-month-old baby.

Relatives told Vanguard that the kidnappers are demanding N150 million ransom for the victims and warned families not to involve security agencies.

The Kaduna State Police Command said it was investigating the reports.

Below are the names of the kidnap victims:

41. Zahaya Joshua

42. Nabilah Makudi

43. Hajara Makudi

44. Rebecca Hosea

45. Ahmad Ahmad

46. Liyu Ezekiel

47. Vivian Ezekiel

48. Goodluck Ezekiel

49. Beauty Ezekiel

50. Matina Maiyashi

51. Bridget Maiyashi

52. Vivian Linus

53. Mary Amos

54. Hamid Amos

55. Patricia Amos

56. Hamisu Amos

57. Luka Amos

58. Tacy Amos

59. Cynthia Amos (guessed)

60. Mercy Isaac

61. Augustine Makudi

62. Matthew Samaila

63. Adam Musa

64. Malika Sule

65. Abu Ahmad

66. Hussein Lucky (guessed)

67. Akinyi Sadiu

68. Dangata Amos

69. Helen Jonathan

70. Asinwa Jonathan

71. Faith Joseph

72. Gloria Kennet

73. Happiness Danisa

74. Fidelis Jacob

75. Tobias Markus

76. Istu Paul

77. Hassana Paul

78. Charity Chindo

79. Christiana Danisa

80. Everest Danima

81. Thomas Philip

82. Catrina Danbosi

83. Halima Hassan

84. Hassan Lukumi

85. Mary Sadiu

86. Franca John

87. Henry Danbiyi

88. Genesis Lawal

89. Ayuba Lawal

90. Solomon Ayuba

91. Theophilus Danlami (guessed)

92. Charles Sambo

93. Rahila Charles

94. Gambo Danisa

95. Talent Danisa

96. Nehemiah Danjuma

97. Maijima Shekarau

98. Matina Maijima

99. Laraba Maijima

100. Musa Danjuma

101. Ishaya Danima

102. Lulu Danisa

103. Clement Ahmad

104. Destiny Ahmad

105. Nehemiah Ishaya

106. Simon Ishaya

107. Nasty Muku

108. Helena Joseph

109. Joseph Bawa

110. Sarah Joseph

111. Bulus Mariya

112. Musa Samaila

113. Bulus Bawa

114. Halima Bawa

115. Beture Hosea

116. Sati Hosea

117. Titus John

118. Dogara Bawa

119. Lories Bawa

120. Adamu Aminu

121. Ezekiel Adamu

122. Tenah Markus

123. Tina Danbosi

124. Patricio Bawa

125. Janet Tsuda

126. Amina Danjuma

127. Sandra Danbosi

128. Bridget Sunday

129. Saphat Innocent (guessed)

130. Alex Sunday

131. Beauty Peter

132. Samisa Paul

133. Joy Joseph

134. Methole Johanna

135. Genesis Johanna

136. Maria Johanna

137. Merozdu Adonu

138. Karimi Jangbe

139. Sunday Martela

140. Santina Hershinga

141. Keuna Michael

142. Hassan Bulus

143. Marzeta Maisoni

144. Mainwa Dominic

145. Godwin Karimi

146. Amos Akijo

147. Nathan Amos

148. Joseph Chindo

149. Lydia Godwin

150. Hamna Maiyangi

151. Toletu Maiyangi

152. Esther Godday

153. Godswill Godday

154. Godlive Samson

155. Goodluck Aliga

156. Madaki Tabawa

157. Tabawa Abba

158. Tabawa Iyamye

159. Samuel Amos

160. Daniel Amos

161. Deborah Amos

162. Ruth Amos

163. Emmanuel Danjuma

164. Joshua Danjuma

165. Rejoice Danisa

166. Blessing Danisa

167. Ibrahim Lawal

168. Zainab Lawal

169. Sadiq Ahmad

170. Aisha Ahmad

171. Yakubu Musa

172. Suleiman Musa

173. Rahama Musa

174. Daniel Jonathan

175. Samuel Jonathan

176. Peter Jonathan

177. Grace Jonathan