Responding to the abduction of 166 persons during worship in three churches on Sunday 18 January in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state northern Nigeria, Isa Sanusi Director Amnesty International Nigeria said:
“The Nigerian authorities must ensure that all 166 people abducted from three churches at Kurmin Wali village of Kajuru local area council Kaduna northern Nigeria are safely and securely rescued and reunited with their families. Those abducted include minors and pregnant women.”
“The incident, which took place on Sunday 18 January 2026 during worship, demonstrates, once again, the utter failure of Nigerian authorities to end the endemic impunity of killings and abductions.”
“Residents of the village and families of those abducted told Amnesty International that the gunmen invaded the village and went from one church to another, dragging along all worshippers in the three churches raided. It is appalling that gunmen are still having free rein across some rural areas of northern Nigeria.”
“Amnesty International condemns the desperate denial of the incident by the police and Kaduna state government.”
“The latest mass abduction clearly shows President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan to end years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that killed thousands of people. Whatever security measures being implemented by President Tinubu and his government are clearly not working.”
“Authorities must also take immediate and concrete measures to prevent rampant abductions that are gradually becoming the norm in Nigeria.”