Obgist | Nigeria News, Celebrity Scoop, International Gist and Tech News

Kaduna church abduction deepens as terrorists demand ₦250m ransom and 20 motorcycles for 166 worshippers seized in Kajuru.

Tension remains high in parts of southern Kaduna as suspected terrorists who abducted worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area have raised their ransom demand to ₦250 million and 20 motorcycles.

The victims, numbering at least 166, were taken during coordinated attacks on churches in Kurmin Wali community earlier this month, in what residents describe as one of the largest mass abductions in recent years.

The village head of Kurmin Wali, Mr. Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed the latest development on Tuesday, saying the new demand is far beyond the capacity of the rural community.

According to him, the gunmen struck on January 18, 2026, storming churches during worship sessions and abducting men, women, and youths without discrimination.

“This is beyond what our people can afford,” Dan’azumi said. “We are appealing to the government and security agencies to help us secure the release of our people.”

Kajuru Local Government Area, like many parts of southern Kaduna, has endured repeated attacks linked to banditry and kidnapping.

Over the years, residents have faced mass abductions, killings, and arson, forcing many families to flee their homes. Farmlands have been abandoned, livelihoods disrupted, and entire communities pushed deeper into hardship due to persistent insecurity.

Local leaders warn that without stronger intervention, vulnerable rural settlements will remain easy targets.

Following the attack, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, visited one of the affected churches in Kurmin Wali alongside heavily armed officers.

Sources at the scene said the commissioner instructed those present to switch off their mobile phones and warned against taking photos or recording videos during the visit.

He also toured nearby communities impacted by the attacks.

The visit came amid criticism after the police commissioner had earlier denied that worshippers were abducted, a position that sparked concern among residents and rights groups.

However, a video later obtained from the scene showed the commissioner inspecting the church and interacting with victims, including one survivor who sustained visible head injuries.

The injured victim, who reportedly escaped while the abductors were transporting captives into the forest, narrated his experience during the police visit.

He explained that the attack happened suddenly during worship and that he was carrying his daughter while trying to flee.

“When we reached a narrow area where houses were close together, I managed to escape,” he said. “I entered a house and locked it. None of them noticed me.”

He later clarified that he was worshipping at a nearby ECWA church, not the main church where the commissioner was conducting his inspection.

As negotiations stall and fear spreads, community leaders are renewing calls on the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue operations and strengthen security presence in rural areas.

For families of the abducted worshippers, time is critical, and hope now rests largely on swift and decisive government intervention.