NIGERIA: 177 KIDNAPPED IN ATTACK ON CHURCHES 

Three churches in Kaduna state, Nigeria, have been attacked and 177 worshippers kidnapped on Sunday 18 January. please pray for our brothers and sisters.

The latest attack in Nigeria has seen armed extremists attack three churches in the Kurmin Wali community of Kaduna State, a largely Christian region. On Sunday 18 January at around 9am, armed men invaded three churches and took 177 people from the community. 

Image: Inside one of the churches that was attacked…

Yunana Adauji, a secretary of the church network that was attacked who managed to escape said:

“The victims kidnapped were forced into the bush, including children, women and men, as well as sick people who were at home recuperating after surgery. We don’t know the condition of our people who were kidnapped. We need your prayers and help to see an end to these attacks.”

Since the kidnapping, elderly women and young children have been released, whilst some were able to escape their captors. Over 160 remain, and locals believe that they have been abducted for ransom. 

A community traumatised 

Sadly, this is not the first attack on the Kurmin Wali community. On 11 January, 21 people were kidnapped, only being freed after paying about seven million naira – around £3,660. 

Since this most recent attack, many villagers in Kurmin Wali have resorted to sleeping in the bush for safety, fearing attacks at night. Some are traumatised, unable to eat because of anxiety about their family members who were taken.

Repeated assaults and growing insecurity have forced many to flee, increasing the number of those displaced because of persecution in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa. Only recently were the remaining children and teachers kidnapped from St Mary’s School in Niger State returned to their families. 

Please pray for our church family in the Kurmin Wali community using the points below…