Kaduna State police have formally acknowledged that an abduction did occur in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, reversing earlier public uncertainty and confirming survivor accounts from the January 18 church attacks.
In a statement issued Tuesday by the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, authorities said subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources confirmed that worshippers were abducted, prompting coordinated security operations to rescue the victims and restore calm.
“The incident did occur,” the police said, adding that tactical units and intelligence assets have now been fully deployed to Kajuru and surrounding communities under the directive of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
The clarification follows days of conflicting narratives after Kaduna State Commissioner of Police Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu publicly questioned reports of a mass abduction during church services, urging accusers to provide names and details of victims. Those remarks sparked backlash from Christian leaders, local officials and survivors.
Read Also: [Video] From Denial to Damage Control: Police visit Kajuru after harrowing survivor account
According to the police statement, Rabiu’s comments were not intended as a denial but as a cautious response amid disputed claims during a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council, convened by the governor after initial reports of the attack.
“Some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report, which had earlier been confirmed by the Police, and described it as false,” the statement said, noting that the conflicting accounts created uncertainty and required careful verification before definitive public conclusions.
The Force said Rabiu’s remarks were meant to prevent panic while details—including the number and identities of those abducted—were being confirmed.
The official confirmation aligns with survivor testimonies gathered during a recent visit by police leadership to Kajuru, where an escapee described how gunmen stormed churches during Sunday worship and forced congregants into surrounding forests.
“We were in the church when we heard noise from outside,” the survivor said. “I stepped out and saw four armed men. I picked my little daughter and wanted to run, but one of them said if I run he will shoot me.”
The survivor said worshippers from multiple churches were rounded up, beaten, and marched deep into the bush.
“When we got to another village in the bush, we saw many people there—some not from our community,” he said. “That was where I escaped because of the crowd.”
Police said coordinated search-and-rescue operations are now underway, including intensified patrols, targeted intelligence gathering and the deployment of tactical units to protect communities and locate the abducted worshippers.
The Force appealed to the public and the media to rely on official communications and avoid speculation that could jeopardise ongoing operations or heighten fear.
The incident—widely referred to as #Kajuru177—has become one of the most closely watched security cases in northern Nigeria, underscoring the challenges authorities face in verifying information quickly amid mass violence, community fear and competing local accounts.
It also adds urgency to broader concerns about Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape, particularly in rural areas of the Middle Belt, where attacks on churches, villages and commuters have persisted despite increased security deployments.
FULL LIST OF 177 KIDNAPPED PERSONS
1. Samson Naallah
2. Edisid Naallah
3. Christopher Naallah
4. Martin Samson
5. Moses Samson
6. Clever Godwin
7. Jerusalem Chindo
8. Markus Makudi
9. Benjamin Markus
10. Albert Markus
11. Olelana Markus
12. Linus Markus
13. Hassana Linus
14. Ojo Bamboya
15. Esther Ojo
16. Mary Jonathan
17. George Jonathan
18. Careful Jonathan
19. EF James
20. Morin Boniface
21. Junior James
22. Happiness Jonathan
23. Honest Jonathan
24. Honesty Jonathan
25. Faith Luka
26. Beauty Luka
27. Junior Luka
28. Rosemary Luka
29. Dorothy Musa
30. Selina Nwankwo
31. Alice Bamboya
32. Magdalena Godwin
33. Hassan Ishaya
34. Lazarus Ishaya
35. Marta Ishaya
36. Zummunta Ishaya
37. Salvation Ishaya
38. Susana Linus
39. Jummai Linus
40. Peace Joshua
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
