Kajuru Horror: Bandits Demand ₦250 Million and 20 Motorcycles for Release of 166 Abducted Worshippers

 

Bandits holding 166 worshippers abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have escalated their demands, insisting on a ransom of ₦250 million and 20 motorcycles before freeing the victims.

The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, revealed the latest conditions set by the kidnappers in a statement reported on January 27, 2026. According to the traditional ruler, the bandits contacted the community directly, linking their demands to an earlier accusation that residents had stolen 17 motorcycles allegedly lost during military operations in the area. “The bandits called and said Kurmin Wali community must pay ₦250 million and provide 20 motorcycles before they will release the kidnapped worshippers,” Dan’azumi stated.

The mass abduction occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when armed attackers raided three churches—branches of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim—during services in Iburu District. A total of 177 people, including children as young as five, women, and elderly men, were taken hostage. Eleven victims later escaped and returned to the community showing signs of injury and trauma, leaving 166 still in captivity.

The incident, one of the largest targeted attacks on religious gatherings in recent months in Nigeria's northwest, initially faced denial from Kaduna State Police and local government officials, who described early reports as “falsehoods” and challenged residents to provide evidence. The police later confirmed the abductions after widespread outrage, with the Kaduna State Government acknowledging the event and deploying security forces.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani visited the affected areas shortly after the incident, assuring close collaboration with security agencies for rescue operations. He met with community leaders and families, while medical care was provided to the escapees and repairs began on access roads to the village.

The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) branches, and groups like Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) have condemned the attack as tragic and unprecedented. SKCLA declared a two-day fast and prayer for the victims' release, while CSW-N urged haste in rescue efforts, highlighting the victims' exposure to harsh conditions, hunger, and danger in the bush.

The bandits are reportedly using the hostages as human shields to deter military airstrikes in their forest enclaves around Gabachua, Legede, and Agwalla mountain corridors—long-known hideouts for banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnappings across Kajuru, Kauru, and neighboring areas.

The demands reflect a pattern in northwest Nigeria's kidnapping epidemic, where abductors often seek cash, goods, or items like motorcycles for mobility. Earlier reports from residents indicated initial demands focused on 17 motorcycles alone, but the latest communication combined monetary and material ransom.

Community leaders, including Senator Lawal Adamu Usman (Senator LA), have visited injured victims in hospitals and assured families of ongoing efforts for safe returns. Advocacy groups and political figures, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have criticized initial denials by authorities as attempts to downplay insecurity.

As anxiety mounts in Kurmin Wali and surrounding communities, calls intensify for intensified security patrols, intelligence-driven operations, and decisive action to end the cycle of abductions plaguing Southern Kaduna. Authorities have not publicly commented on negotiations or ransom payments, emphasizing rescue over concessions amid ongoing search efforts.