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The nightmare returns: Gunmen storm two churches, kidnap 170 people in Nigeria
The hinge of a detached door frame at the Haske Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, after an attack by gunmen in which worshippers were kidnapped, in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, Nigeria, January 20, 2026.
What you need to know:
- Over 170 kidnapped during Kaduna church service
- Nigerian government denies systematic persecution of Christians
- Kidnappings by armed gangs prevalent in northern Nigeria
Afiniki Moses thought her ordeal was over when armed abductors released her on January 15 after her family paid a ransom in a village in northern Kaduna state. She was wrong.
The armed gang returned to Kurmin Wali village on Sunday and seized more than 170 people during a church service from two churches, including her husband and two children.
A person stands near a broken door of the Haske Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, after an attack by gunmen in which worshippers were kidnapped, in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, Nigeria, January 20, 2026.
The children later escaped, she said, but her husband is among 163 people that the Christian Association of Nigeria says are still missing.
"They kidnapped a large number of people in the community and my husband happened to be among them. As you can see me now, I am not feeling fine," she said.
An interior view of Haske Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, after an attack by gunmen in which worshippers were kidnapped, in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, Nigeria, January 20, 2026.
Nigeria in Trump's crosshairs over Christians
The attack on the churches is the latest in a series of abductions in the West African country, adding to pressure on the government.
It is under scrutiny from US President Donald Trump, who threatened military action over what he says is persecution of Christians, before launching an airstrike on Christmas Day. The Nigerian government has denied that there is any systematic persecution of Christians.
A drone view of Kurmin Wali, where churches were attacked by gunmen and worshippers were kidnapped, in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, Nigeria, January 20, 2026.
It says it is working hard to tackle Islamists and other violent groups that have attacked both Muslim and Christian civilians, often for ransom.
It has also hired a Washington-based consulting firm to help communicate its effort to protect Christians.
A Bible is seen on a chair inside the Haske Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, after an attack by gunmen in which worshippers were kidnapped, in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, Nigeria, January 20, 2026.
Kidnappings have spread over the years, mostly in remote parts of northern Nigeria, and are carried out by armed gangs who ride into villages on motorcycles and seize villagers.
Inside one of the churches targeted in Kurmin Wali, named the Evangelical Church Winning All, a Reuters reporter saw signs of disturbance, with some plastic chairs on the floor. A Bible lay on one chair, and musical instruments that appeared to have been used in a lively church service.
Idris Madami, a school teacher who escaped an attempted kidnapping during an attack by gunmen in which worshippers were abducted from an ECWA church, speaks to Reuters in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, Nigeria, January 20, 2026.
Idris Madami said he was outside Albarika Cherubin and Seraphin Movement Church nearby when the gunmen arrived with guns.
He managed to escape but said about 20 of his family members who were attending service were taken away and he has not heard from them.
"I have two wives (and) three children among those kidnapped," he told Reuters.
Items belonging to survivors near the Haske Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, after an attack by gunmen in which dozens of worshippers were kidnapped, in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna, Nigeria, January 20, 2026.
