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All abducted worshippers released in northern Nigeria
Officials in Nigeria's Kaduna state confirmed on Friday that the last group of churchgoers seized by gunmen during a January 18 raid in Kurmin Wali village have now been freed, ending a 16-day ordeal.
Timeline of the abduction
Armed men stormed the village during Sunday services, taking 177 people hostage, according to local residents. Eleven managed to escape shortly afterward, while another 80 evaded recapture and hid in nearby villages before returning home earlier this week.
Unclear circumstances behind release
Neither police nor state authorities have disclosed what led to the release of the remaining captives. The mass abduction was initially denied by law enforcement, who only acknowledged it two days later-a delay that drew sharp criticism from Amnesty International for what it called "desperate denial."
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani announced the freed hostages would undergo medical and psychological evaluations before reuniting with families. "They will reclaim the rhythms of normal life," he wrote on X.
Community relief and government response
Rev. John Hayab, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the north, told the BBC the community was "celebrating [the abductees'] safe return" after days of anguish. The released worshippers were reportedly in stable condition at an intelligence police facility in Kaduna, undergoing health checks.
"So far, I think they are in good shape. They are grateful to the government and security agencies for whatever they did."
Rev. John Hayab
Broader security challenges
The kidnapping is part of a surge in abductions plaguing Nigeria, alongside an Islamist insurgency in the northeast, separatist violence in the southeast, and deadly clashes between herders and farmers over resources. Analysts cite corruption, weak intelligence sharing, and underfunded local police as key obstacles to improving security.
International concern has grown over the crisis. In December, the U.S. conducted airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting Islamist militant camps. Then-President Donald Trump warned of further strikes if attacks on Christians continued.
Faith and division in Nigeria
Africa's most populous nation, home to over 250 ethnic groups, is roughly split between a Muslim-majority north and a Christian-dominated south, with significant religious mixing in central regions. The government insists violence affects all faiths, though recent attacks have disproportionately targeted Christian communities.
