Attack on 3 Kaduna Churches: Amnesty International Faults Govt Over 166 Abductions

Kaduna, Nigeria – January 20, 2026

Amnesty International has condemned the abduction of 166 worshippers from three churches in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the incident as another damning proof of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Amnesty said gunmen stormed the community on Sunday 18 January 2026 during church services, moving from one church to another and forcefully taking all worshippers away. Those abducted include children and pregnant women.

The global rights organisation called on Nigerian authorities to urgently ensure that all the victims are rescued safely and reunited with their families. It stressed that the incident highlights the continued failure of the state to protect Christians, particularly in rural communities across northern Nigeria.

Residents and relatives of the victims told Amnesty International that the terrorists operated freely, facing no resistance, as they went from church to church. Amnesty described the situation as appalling, noting that terrorists groups still enjoy unchecked movement in parts of the country.

The organisation also criticised the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force for what it termed a “desperate denial” of the attack, warning that such responses worsen public distrust and embolden terrorist groups.

According to Amnesty, the latest mass abduction exposes the absence of an effective security strategy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. It said years of killings and abductions have continued despite repeated government assurances, with thousands of lives already lost to armed violence.

Amnesty International urged the federal and state authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to end the culture of impunity, warning that mass abductions are fast becoming normalised in Nigeria.

“The protection of lives must be the primary duty of any government,” the organisation said, adding that Nigerians deserve safety, accountability, and justice, not excuses and denial.

Peoples Chronicles had earlier reported the mass abduction, stating that more than 160 Christians were taken from their churches by suspected Fulani terrorists. The report noted that while community members and religious leaders confirmed the coordinated attack, officials of the Kaduna State Government, including the state police command, initially attempted to deny that the abduction took place.