The full list of 177 Christian worshippers abducted during coordinated attacks on three churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has been released, confirming the magnitude of what residents and rights groups describe as one of the largest mass abductions in the state in recent times.
Gunmen struck on Sunday morning, storming ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 in Kurmin Wali community, firing shots to instil fear before herding worshippers into the surrounding forest.
The released names show that entire families were taken, leaving the rural community devastated and virtually emptied as survivors fled for safety.
According to the list, the Amos family lost 13 members, the Jonathan family 12, Markus/Makudi family 10, Ishaya and Danisa families seven each, Bawa family six, while the Danjuma and Musa families had five members abducted each.
The victims include elderly persons and young children. The oldest abductee is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest, Salvation Idris, is just six years old. Several other children aged between six and ten also feature prominently on the list.
A police situation report confirmed the attack, stating that the assault occurred at about 11:25am on Sunday, though security agencies only received information several hours later. The report noted that access to Kurmin Wali was severely hampered by bad roads and its location within a dense forest corridor, delaying security response.
By the following day, Kurmin Wali was largely deserted, with residents fleeing to neighbouring villages. Some escapees sustained injuries while fleeing the attackers, while others could not be reached due to poor mobile network and missing phones.
The latest abduction came barely one week after residents paid N2.6 million ransom to secure the release of 20 community members kidnapped earlier, heightening fears that the area has become a repeat target.
The publication of the names followed earlier denials by Kaduna State officials and police authorities, who had questioned reports of the abduction and demanded proof of the victims’ identities.
Rights organisations have accused authorities of attempting to minimise the incident. Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) said its team was prevented by security personnel from accessing Kurmin Wali shortly after the attack.
CSW-N Research and Press Officer, Reuben Buhari, said the organisation’s team encountered a military convoy leaving the community and was later barred from entering despite proper identification, citing a “standing order”.
The group said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, split into three units and attacked the churches simultaneously. While some elderly women and children were later released and 11 reportedly escaped, scores remained in captivity at the time CSW-N spoke with community sources.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Dr. Joseph Hayab, accused security agencies of failing to pursue the attackers promptly.
He said the delay allowed the gunmen to move the captives deep into the forest, making rescue efforts more difficult.
International reactions have followed the incident. A United States lawmaker, Rep. Riley Moore, described the abduction as “horrific” and urged the Nigerian government to prioritise the safe return of the victims.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi also condemned the attack, describing it as another troubling sign of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity crisis.
The list also includes:
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
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