Eighty of the 177 worshippers abducted from three churches in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have escaped from captivity and reunited with their families. The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan'azumi, disclosed this on Sunday, noting that 11 of the victims had escaped shortly after the abduction on January 18, while the remaining 80 fled more recently. According to him, the escapees initially sought refuge in neighbouring communities before returning to the village. He added that 86 worshippers are still being held by bandits in a forest.
Dan’azumi lamented attempts by some individuals to politicise the incident, noting that the affected families continue to grapple with trauma. He appealed to the government and the military to intensify efforts to secure the release of those still in captivity, stressing that Kurmin Wali and the surrounding communities have lived under constant fear of bandit attacks and kidnappings.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the command would issue a comprehensive report on the incident.
The abductions have been shrouded in controversy, with conflicting accounts over the number of victims. While the Kaduna State Police Command and the Kajuru Local Government Council initially dismissed reports of a mass abduction, community leaders and church officials maintained that worshippers were taken during church services.
The dispute intensified after a list of 177 alleged abductees, compiled by families and church leaders, surfaced following a public request by the Commissioner of Police for verifiable details.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Hayab, said more than 160 worshippers were abducted.
Residents said the gunmen attacked Catholic, ECWA, and Cherubim and Seraphim churches, locked the gates and forced congregants into the bush.