Suspected bandits have abducted 163 worshippers during a church service in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in one of the latest mass kidnappings to hit the area.
The attack occurred on Sunday while worshippers were in the middle of the service. The Chairperson of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru LGA, Enoch Kaura, confirmed the incident on Monday.
According to Kaura, the assailants arrived in large numbers, blocked the church entrance and forced congregants into nearby bushes.
“Initially, 172 people were taken, including men, women and children. Nine managed to escape, but 163 are still in captivity,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful as the police spokesperson’s phone line remained unreachable.
Kajuru LGA has witnessed repeated mass abductions in recent years, with armed gangs frequently targeting schools and rural churches.
The area’s dense forests, which extend toward Niger and Katsina states, are believed to harbour bandit camps where victims are held while ransom demands are negotiated.
