Suspected bandits on Sunday, January 18, 2026, abducted more than 100 worshippers in the Kurmin Wali area of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The armed bandits on arrival at the community while church services were being conducted, reportedly carried out a coordinated attacks on several churches as they fired shots into the air, caused panic which led to the abduction of more than 100 worshippers.
It was further gathered that the development forced a lot of the worshippers attempted to escape into nearby bushes only to fall into the hands of other members of the bandits who seized them without much struggle.
A local source whose relatives was among the victims abducted, told SaharaReporters that the attackers moved from one church to another, abducting people in large numbers during the operation.
The source further said that about 10 of the abducted persons were later released as they were considered to be vulnerable people while the remaining abductees were taken away to an undisclosed location.
“They came during service and started taking people away. Some of those released were elderly and weak,” the source said.
Security agencies and other relevant authorities in the area have been informed of the incident, but no official statement had been issued as of the time of this report.
The abduction is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Southern part of Kaduna State as earlier report indicated that bandits killed four members of a family during a night attack in Kachia town, the headquarters of Kachia Local Government Area.
The victims were identified as Mr Bitrus Bahago, his wife, Mrs Justina Bahago, their son, Ibrahim Bahago, and a relative, Adam Waziri, who were all killed by bandits.
Residents of Kachia said the deadly attackers arrived in large numbers and opened fire on homes, leaving several people injured.
Those injured were taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Members of the community described the attack as frightening, adding that the deadly attacks have continued despite the town’s proximity to major institutions and security formations, including the Federal University of Applied Science.
