Armed militants stormed two Nigerian churches during Sunday morning services, abducting over 160 Christian worshippers in what marks another devastating attack on religious communities in West Africa’s most populous nation.

Weekend Church Attack Details

The assault occurred at approximately 11:25 a.m. Sunday in Kurmin Wali village, located in Kaduna state’s Afogo ward. Gunmen wielding sophisticated weapons targeted congregants during active worship services, successfully capturing the majority of those present. Reverend John Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s northern chapter, confirmed that 172 worshippers were taken hostage while only nine individuals managed to escape the coordinated attack.

Kaduna state police initially provided conservative figures regarding the number of captives, citing the early stage of their investigation. Security forces, including military troops and specialized agencies, have been deployed to track the abductors and coordinate rescue efforts. The attackers reportedly operated from forest hideouts, following established patterns used by criminal gangs throughout Nigeria’s northern and central regions.

Escalating Religious Persecution

This incident represents the latest in Nigeria’s ongoing crisis of faith-based violence, particularly targeting Christian communities. The 2025 Open Doors World Watch List designated Nigeria as the global epicenter for Christian killings, noting that believers face disproportionate persecution compared to other religious groups. One in five African Christians currently experiences high-level persecution, according to international monitoring organizations.

Pattern of Ransom-Driven Attacks

Armed groups, including Muslim Fulani militants, have systematically targeted Christian communities to generate ransom payments while destabilizing religious populations. Recent examples include the November kidnapping of 52 Catholic students and staff from St. Mary’s School, and an April incident where the Evangelical Church Winning All paid approximately $205,000 to secure the release of 50 kidnapped members in Kaduna state. These attacks have created a profitable criminal enterprise that threatens Nigeria’s religious freedom and community stability.