ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Over 150 worshippers were abducted during coordinated assaults on three distinct churches in northwest Nigeria, as reported by state lawmaker Usman Danlami Stingo. The harrowing incident took place on Sunday in Kurmin Wali, a community located in the Kajuru region of Kaduna state, as church services were in progress at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), a church associated with the denomination Cherubim and Seraphim, and a Catholic church.
According to Stingo, the current count of missing individuals has reached 177, with 11 having returned home, leaving 168 still unaccounted for. As of now, the police authorities in Kaduna state have not provided any official comments regarding the abductions.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which underscores the alarming trend of similar occurrences across Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation. The region is plagued by numerous gangs and armed religious groups that frequently target remote communities, often characterized by insufficient security and a fragile government presence.
The northern regions of Nigeria have been particularly affected by such violence. Instances of church attacks have prompted allegations concerning the persecution of Christians, drawing attention from international figures such as former U.S. President Donald Trump and various American lawmakers, who have expressed concerns over the safety of Christians in Nigeria. In response to escalating violence, the U.S. government launched military strikes in Sokoto on December 25, aiming at members of an Islamic State group operating in the area.
The Nigerian government, however, has pushed back against the narrative of a "Christian genocide" occurring in the country, arguing that the security challenges faced are multifaceted and affect people of various religious backgrounds.
This recent attack highlights the ongoing struggles within Nigeria’s security framework, raising questions about the safety of worshippers and the overall stability of the region. The violence underscores the urgent need for enhanced protective measures for vulnerable communities and a more robust response from the government to combat these growing threats.
