Dozens of worshippers kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state have returned home weeks after their abduction, police have confirmed. They were among 177 people seized last month from three churches in the remote village of Kurmin Wali.
Police say the 80 escaped on the same day they were taken, but hid in neighbouring villages for a fortnight due to fear of being captured again, state police spokesman Mansur Hassan told the BBC. The authorities assert that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining 86 people still being held. This attack is part of a disturbing trend of ransom kidnappings in Nigeria, though no group has officially claimed responsibility for the abductions.
The raid was initially met with confusion, as police denied reports of the containment until January 21, when information from local residents prompted an admission that 177 worshippers had indeed been taken, with 11 escaping soon after. Human rights organization Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government for its handling of the incident, calling it a desperate denial of reality and urging officials to take concrete measures to prevent such rampant abductions, which have increasingly become the norm.
In November, more than 300 students and teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in a neighboring state, highlighting the scale of the issue. Nigeria faces various security challenges beyond kidnappings, including an Islamist insurgency in the northeast and violent clashes between herders and farmers over resources. Experts note that corruption and poor intelligence sharing hinder effective responses to these crises.
International attention to Nigeria's security situation has increased, with actions including U.S. airstrikes targeting Islamist groups in the region. The Nigerian government continues to maintain that individuals from all backgrounds have fallen victim to the pervasive violence, underscoring the complex socio-political landscape of the nation.
