Abduction In Kaduna: Full Identities Of Kidnapped Worshippers Released
The identities of the 177 worshippers abducted from ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have been revealed, laying bare the scale and brutality of the attack.
The victims were kidnapped on Sunday during church services in a coordinated raid that has left the community traumatised and largely deserted. The released list shows that entire families were taken, including elderly persons and young children, underscoring the devastating impact on the rural community.
The abduction occurred barely one week after residents of Kurmin Wali reportedly paid a ransom of N2.6 million to secure the release of 20 people earlier kidnapped from the same area.
Although the Kaduna State Government and some security officials initially denied that a mass abduction took place, a police situation report obtained by Vanguard confirmed the incident. According to the report, information was received at about 5:45 pm on Sunday, indicating that the attack happened around 11:25 am.
The situation report stated that an unspecified number of armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, attacked ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2, firing sporadically and forcing worshippers to flee into the surrounding forest. It added that the area could not be accessed immediately due to poor road conditions, but that security agencies and the military were mobilised, while investigations commenced.
As of yesterday, Kurmin Wali village was virtually deserted, with survivors fleeing to neighbouring communities to seek refuge with relatives and friends. Some victims reportedly sustained injuries while escaping, while others could not be reached due to poor network coverage and lost mobile phones.
An analysis of the names of the abducted persons shows that whole households were taken. The Jonathan family reportedly lost 12 members, the Amos family 13, Markus/Makudi family 10, Ishaya and Danisa families seven each, and the Bawa family six. Several other families lost between two and five members.
The oldest abductee is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest is six-year-old Salvation Idris. Other children among the victims include Likita Amos (6), Jumota Idris (7), Tessy Amos (8), Yahaya Joshua (9), and several 10-year-olds, including Sussana Idris, Synthah Amos, Hezibah Jonathan, and Hezikaiah Jonathan.
The incident has sparked strong reactions from rights groups and religious leaders. Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) criticised the initial denial of the abduction and accused security agents of obstructing independent verification of the incident. According to CSW-N, its team was prevented by the military from accessing Kurmin Wali shortly after the attack, despite proper identification.
CSW-N further disclosed that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, split into three groups, and simultaneously attacked the churches. The group claimed that some elderly women and children were later released, while others escaped, leaving at least 167 persons in captivity at the time of its engagement with community sources.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Dr. Joseph Hayab, accused security agents of failing to act promptly, alleging that their inaction allowed the bandits to escape with a large number of victims.
International condemnation has also followed the attack. A United States lawmaker, Rep. Riley Moore, described the abduction as “horrific” and urged the Nigerian government to ensure the swift and safe return of the victims. Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, similarly condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable and warning against the growing pattern of mass abductions across the country.
The state government, police command, and the chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area had earlier challenged reports of the abduction and demanded the release of the names of the victims—now made public.
Meanwhile, the mass abduction came on the heels of another kidnapping incident in Kujama community, Southern Kaduna, where bandits reportedly abducted two women and a child, including a nursing mother, and demanded a ransom of N150 million. The attackers were said to have inflicted severe machete injuries on the husbands who tried to resist them.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command said it was investigating the incidents and would provide further updates.
Below are the names of the kidnap victims:
41. Zahaya Joshua
42. Nabilah Makudi
43. Hajara Makudi
44. Rebecca Hosea
45. Ahmad Ahmad
46. Liyu Ezekiel
47. Vivian Ezekiel
48. Goodluck Ezekiel
49. Beauty Ezekiel
50. Matina Maiyashi
51. Bridget Maiyashi
52. Vivian Linus
53. Mary Amos
54. Hamid Amos
55. Patricia Amos
56. Hamisu Amos
57. Luka Amos
58. Tacy Amos
59. Cynthia Amos (guessed)
60. Mercy Isaac
61. Augustine Makudi
62. Matthew Samaila
63. Adam Musa
64. Malika Sule
65. Abu Ahmad
66. Hussein Lucky (guessed)
67. Akinyi Sadiu
68. Dangata Amos
69. Helen Jonathan
70. Asinwa Jonathan
71. Faith Joseph
72. Gloria Kennet
73. Happiness Danisa
74. Fidelis Jacob
75. Tobias Markus
76. Istu Paul
77. Hassana Paul
78. Charity Chindo
79. Christiana Danisa
80. Everest Danima
81. Thomas Philip
82. Catrina Danbosi
83. Halima Hassan
84. Hassan Lukumi
85. Mary Sadiu
86. Franca John
87. Henry Danbiyi
88. Genesis Lawal
89. Ayuba Lawal
90. Solomon Ayuba
91. Theophilus Danlami (guessed)
92. Charles Sambo
93. Rahila Charles
94. Gambo Danisa
95. Talent Danisa
96. Nehemiah Danjuma
97. Maijima Shekarau
98. Matina Maijima
99. Laraba Maijima
100. Musa Danjuma
101. Ishaya Danima
102. Lulu Danisa
103. Clement Ahmad
104. Destiny Ahmad
105. Nehemiah Ishaya
106. Simon Ishaya
107. Nasty Muku
108. Helena Joseph
109. Joseph Bawa
110. Sarah Joseph
111. Bulus Mariya
112. Musa Samaila
113. Bulus Bawa
114. Halima Bawa
115. Beture Hosea
116. Sati Hosea
117. Titus John
118. Dogara Bawa
119. Lories Bawa
120. Adamu Aminu
121. Ezekiel Adamu
122. Tenah Markus
123. Tina Danbosi
124. Patricio Bawa
125. Janet Tsuda
126. Amina Danjuma
127. Sandra Danbosi
128. Bridget Sunday
129. Saphat Innocent (guessed)
130. Alex Sunday
131. Beauty Peter
132. Samisa Paul
133. Joy Joseph
134. Methole Johanna
135. Genesis Johanna
136. Maria Johanna
137. Merozdu Adonu
138. Karimi Jangbe
139. Sunday Martela
140. Santina Hershinga
141. Keuna Michael
142. Hassan Bulus
143. Marzeta Maisoni
144. Mainwa Dominic
145. Godwin Karimi
146. Amos Akijo
147. Nathan Amos
148. Joseph Chindo
149. Lydia Godwin
150. Hamna Maiyangi
151. Toletu Maiyangi
152. Esther Godday
153. Godswill Godday
154. Godlive Samson
155. Goodluck Aliga
156. Madaki Tabawa
157. Tabawa Abba
158. Tabawa Iyamye
159. Samuel Amos
160. Daniel Amos
161. Deborah Amos
162. Ruth Amos
163. Emmanuel Danjuma
164. Joshua Danjuma
165. Rejoice Danisa
166. Blessing Danisa
167. Ibrahim Lawal
168. Zainab Lawal
169. Sadiq Ahmad
170. Aisha Ahmad
171. Yakubu Musa
172. Suleiman Musa
173. Rahama Musa
174. Daniel Jonathan
175. Samuel Jonathan
176. Peter Jonathan
177. Grace Jonathan
