Three Christian Congregations Seized by Fulani Terrorists in One Swoop
By Luka Binniyat
(Kaduna City: BREAKING) No fewer than 160 Christian worshippers were abducted simultaneously on Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, when heavily armed terrorists stormed three churches in Kurmin Wali village, Afago Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
Kaduna state is partly in the Muslim Northwest of Nigeria and partly in the Christian majority Middle Belt, all areas notorious for heinous crimes by a Fulani Ethnic Militia and other terrorists since 2012.
The attackers, described by eyewitnesses as armed Fulani ethnic militia, rounded up congregants during church services and marched them into nearby forests, in what local officials say may be the largest mass kidnapping of farmers ever recorded in the state.
The village of Afago is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Maro and approximately 12 miles from a network of kidnapper hostage camps west of Maro that hold hundreds of captives, according to survivors. The hostages in these camps are routinely starved and beaten daily, according to 12 documented videotaped interviews held by TruthNigeria reporters.
Kurmin Wali, a predominantly agrarian community of about 1,000 residents, is inhabited chiefly by the Adara ethnic group, most of whom are Christians. The coordinated assault on multiple churches has sent shockwaves across Southern Kaduna, a region long plagued by violence linked to armed Muslim jihadists.
Eyewitness Account: ‘They Told Us to Lie Down or Die’
An eyewitness who spoke to TruthNigeria from Kurmin Wali, but requested anonymity for security reasons, gave a chilling account of the attack.
“It was around 10 a.m. on Sunday. I was in our ECWA church when we suddenly heard gunshots everywhere,” he said. “The gunmen were shouting that everyone should lie down or be killed.”
The witness said the attackers were on foot and dressed in mixed attire.
“Some wore black robes with black head turbans, while others wore shabby-looking Nigerian Army camouflage uniforms,” he recalled.
Fearing for his life, he said he grabbed his 10-year-old son and lay flat on the floor as ordered. In the confusion that followed, he seized an opportunity to escape.
“It was while they were marching us out that I bolted through a window, and my son followed me,” he said. “To our surprise, they did not pursue us or fire at us. Maybe the Lord Jesus blinded them from seeing us.”
Father and son fled into nearby bush paths and climbed a small hill, where they hid for about 30 minutes.
“After the chaos, I saw them marching our people towards the direction of Rijana,” he said, adding that four members of his extended family were among those kidnapped.
Lawmakers Confirm Attack, Dispute Numbers
A member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly (KSHA), Hon. Danlami Usman Stingo, who represents Kajuru State Constituency, said the scale of the abduction was unprecedented in Kaduna’s history, outside the well-known mass abductions of schoolchildren.
“To my knowledge, this is the biggest mass kidnapping of farmers in the history of Kaduna State,” Stingo told TruthNigeria. “Kajuru LGA is infested with kidnappers, and they are getting bolder by the day.”
The number of the abducted was disputed by the member representing Kajuru/Chikun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Felix Bagudu, who confirmed the incident to TruthNigeria on Monday. But Bagudu said he doubted the number of abducted exceeded 100.
“It is true that Kurmin Wali was attacked,” Bagudu said. “I have been briefed by the Secretary of Kajuru Local Government. However, I doubt if the number of those abducted is over 100.”
Three Churches Targeted
Hon. Stingo confirmed that the attackers struck three churches simultaneously.
“The ECWA (Evangelical Church Winning All) Church and two Cherubim and Seraphim Churches were attacked,” he said.
“Initially, 177 people were taken from the three churches.”
According to him, seven captives who were either elderly or living with disabilities were later released by the kidnappers, while five others managed to escape during the march into the bush.
“As of now, there are about 165 hostages in the hands of the terrorists,” Stingo said.
Traditional Fulani Leader Denies Involvement
Reacting to the allegations, the Fulani Ardo (traditional chief) for Afago Ward, Magaji Musa, denied that local Fulani were involved in the attack. Speaking to TruthNigeria by phone from an undisclosed location on Monday, Musa said the perpetrators were not from his community.
“I am aware that there was an incident of kidnapping in Afago Ward,” he said. “But Fulani who live among the Adara people in Kajuru cannot be among those kidnappers.”
Musa alleged that some Adara residents were working as informants for the kidnapping gangs.
“I want you to know that even Adara men have joined this kidnapping business,” he claimed. “They collaborate with strange Fulani bandits and serve as informants for them.”
Yet, the confidential who escaped the attack also claimed that one of the armed kidnappers was a Fulani man who had been born in Kurmin Wali but left the village in 2011 following post-election violence.
Experts: Kidnapping Has Replaced Mass Killings
Security and academic experts say the Kurmin Wali attack reflects an evolving pattern of criminality in Southern Kaduna and the wider Nigerian Northwest.
Prof. Emmanuel Musa of the Department of Sociology and Criminology, Niger State University, Lapai, told TruthNigeria that armed Fulani groups have shifted tactics.
“The pattern has evolved from mass killings of Christian farmers and the destruction of villages to the extraction of wealth from victims,” he said. “They have realized that when they invade villages to kill and burn, it creates terrible publicity.”
According to him, kidnapping is now seen by the criminals as a “softer crime with huge dividends.”
“As of today, each hostage in the hands of Fulani terrorists in the Northwest and the Middle Belt is priced at not less than N10 million ($6,500), even a child of five years,” he said.
By that estimate, Prof. Musa said, 165 hostages could translate to about N1.65 billion ($1.65 million).
“That is an enormous sum in a country where the minimum wage is N70,000 per month,” he noted. “With such money, they can recruit more fighters and purchase high-caliber weapons.”
Former Intelligence Officer Raises Alarming Claims
Corroborating Prof. Musa’s views, Col. Dauda Gora (rtd), a former Nigerian Army intelligence officer who now runs a private security firm in Kaduna, described kidnapping as both an ideological and financial tool.
“For Fulani terrorists, kidnapping is both a business and a religious obligation,” Gora said. “It is one of the easiest and most lucrative ways of raising funds to prosecute their jihad—against Christians and against Muslims who do not share the Fodio brand of Islam.”
He raised concerns about possible complicity within the security apparatus.
“With the advancement in tracking and drone technology, isn’t it shocking that some well-entrenched kidnappers’ dens and kingpins have been left untouched for years?” he asked. “It raises serious questions about compromise at high levels.”
Community Gripped by Fear
As families await news of their loved ones, Kurmin Wali remains gripped by fear and uncertainty. Residents say many villagers have fled to neighboring communities, while churches have suspended services.
Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mansir Hassan refused to respond to inquiries from TruthNigeria.
Luka Binniyat is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria in Kaduna.
In the UK My heart is breaking for all those being persecuted for believing in a loving Lord Almighty. Although the book says, we will be,its still awful to learn of the suffering. I pray for the souls of those who inflict this on others. And pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Vengence is mine says the Lord. He will always always be just….