Kaduna Abduction: Names of 177 kidnapped Christians revealed

The identities of 177 worshippers abducted during Sunday attacks on three churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released, laying bare the full scale of one of the deadliest mass kidnappings in the state in recent months.

The victims were taken from ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 in Kurmin Wali community, where gunmen stormed church services, firing sporadically and forcing worshippers into the surrounding forest.

The released list shows that entire families were taken, leaving the community shattered and largely deserted.

Among the worst-hit households are:

Jonathan family – 12 members

Amos family – 13 members

Markus/Makudi family – 10 members

Ishaya and Danisa families – seven each

Bawa family – six members

Danjuma and Musa families – five members each

The oldest victim is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest, Salvation Idris, is just six years old. Several other children between the ages of six and ten are also among those abducted.

A police situation report confirmed the attack, stating that the assault occurred at about 11:25am on Sunday, though authorities were alerted hours later. Security operatives reportedly struggled to access the community due to bad roads and its remote forest location.

As of Monday, Kurmin Wali was largely deserted, with survivors fleeing to neighbouring villages. Some escapees sustained injuries while fleeing, while others remain unreachable due to poor network coverage and lost phones.

The abduction came barely a week after the same community paid N2.6 million ransom to secure the release of 20 residents previously kidnapped.

Rights groups have accused authorities of downplaying the incident. Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) said its team was blocked by security agents from accessing the community shortly after the attack.

CAN Chairman for the 19 northern states and the FCT, Rev. Joseph Hayab, accused security operatives of failing to pursue the attackers promptly, allowing them to escape with dozens of captives.

International condemnation has followed. A US lawmaker described the abduction as “horrific,” while former presidential candidate Peter Obi called it another sign of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government and police authorities had earlier challenged reports of the abduction, asking for the names of victims — a demand now met with the release of the full list of 177 abducted worshippers.

Full List of abducted Kaduna Christians

Zahaya Joshua

Nabilah Makudi

Hajara Makudi

Rebecca Hosea

Ahmad Ahmad

Liyu Ezekiel

Vivian Ezekiel

Goodluck Ezekiel

Beauty Ezekiel

Matina Maiyashi

Bridget Maiyashi

Vivian Linus

Mary Amos

Hamid Amos

Patricia Amos

Hamisu Amos

Luka Amos

Tacy Amos

Cynthia Amos (guessed)

Mercy Isaac

Augustine Makudi

Matthew Samaila

Adam Musa

Malika Sule

Abu Ahmad

Hussein Lucky (guessed)

Akinyi Sadiu

Dangata Amos

Helen Jonathan

Asinwa Jonathan

Faith Joseph

Gloria Kennet

Happiness Danisa

Fidelis Jacob

Tobias Markus

Istu Paul

Hassana Paul

Charity Chindo

Christiana Danisa

Everest Danima

Thomas Philip

Catrina Danbosi

Halima Hassan

Hassan Lukumi

Mary Sadiu

Franca John

Henry Danbiyi

Genesis Lawal

Ayuba Lawal

Solomon Ayuba

Theophilus Danlami (guessed)

Charles Sambo

Rahila Charles

Gambo Danisa

Talent Danisa

Nehemiah Danjuma

Maijima Shekarau

Matina Maijima

Laraba Maijima

Musa Danjuma

Ishaya Danima

Lulu Danisa

Clement Ahmad

Destiny Ahmad

Nehemiah Ishaya

Simon Ishaya

Nasty Muku

Helena Joseph

Joseph Bawa

Sarah Joseph

Bulus Mariya

Musa Samaila

Bulus Bawa

Halima Bawa

Beture Hosea

Sati Hosea

Titus John

Dogara Bawa

Lories Bawa

Adamu Aminu

Ezekiel Adamu

Tenah Markus

Tina Danbosi

Patricio Bawa

Janet Tsuda

Amina Danjuma

Sandra Danbosi

Bridget Sunday

Saphat Innocent (guessed)

Alex Sunday

Beauty Peter

Samisa Paul

Joy Joseph

Methole Johanna

Genesis Johanna

Maria Johanna

Merozdu Adonu

Karimi Jangbe

Sunday Martela

Santina Hershinga

Keuna Michael

Hassan Bulus

Marzeta Maisoni

Mainwa Dominic

Godwin Karimi

Amos Akijo

Nathan Amos

Joseph Chindo

Lydia Godwin

Hamna Maiyangi

Toletu Maiyangi

Esther Godday

Godswill Godday

Godlive Samson

Goodluck Aliga

Madaki Tabawa

Tabawa Abba

Tabawa Iyamye

Samuel Amos

Daniel Amos

Deborah Amos

Ruth Amos

Emmanuel Danjuma

Joshua Danjuma

Rejoice Danisa

Blessing Danisa

Ibrahim Lawal

Zainab Lawal

Sadiq Ahmad

Aisha Ahmad

Yakubu Musa

Suleiman Musa

Rahama Musa

Daniel Jonathan

Samuel Jonathan

Peter Jonathan

Grace Jonathan