By Ebere Inyama
(Kaduna city) 10 days after 177 Christian worshippers were abducted from their churches by armed Fulani terrorists in Kaduna state, Nigeria’s political leaders have yet to visit the families of the victims.
In a post shared on his X account on Monday 26 January, 2026, Political activist Mahdi Shehu, disclosed that none of the country’s top leaders visited Kajuru after the mass abduction, despite the gravity of the incident.
“Neither Tinubu nor (Vice President) Shettima nor Akume nor Christopher etc. visited Kajuru. But they are busy with other lesser engagements because 170 kidnapped victims do not matter in a country where 600,000 people were killed within one year”, Shehu wrote.
177 Christian worshippers were abducted by Fulani ethnic militia during coordinated attacks on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Of that number, 11 victims later escaped, leaving 166 Christians still in captivity, according to a report by TruthNigeria.
The attackers, described by eyewitnesses as armed Fulani ethnic militia, rounded up congregants at the ECWA (Evangelical Church Winning All) Church and two Cherubim and Seraphim Churches during church services and marched them into nearby forests in the Maro axis of the council area.
Investigations carried out by TruthNigeria reveals that the hostages may have been taken to the Rijana torture camp in Southern Kaduna within 5 km of the border with Niger State.
Kaduna state is partly in the Muslim Northwest of Nigeria and partly in the Christian-majority Middle Belt. The state has recorded multiple incidents of killings and abduction of Christians by the Fulani Ethnic Militia and other terrorists since 2012.
Nigerian Officials Accused of Complicity
Reacting to the events preceding the kidnap of 177 worshipers in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, accused the Nigerian government of complicity.
“No matter the level of international action against terrorism, Nigeria will not get results as long as local authorities are compromised and complicit,” Hashim said.
“The denial is a calculated attempt to erase a crime,” he added.
The Nigeria Police Force initially denied that any abduction took place, but a few days later police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin admitted that the attack happened and that many were kidnapped.
Hashim said the denial exposed a troubling and increasingly common pattern in Nigeria’s security management that treats truth as a liability instead of the key to law enforcement.
He cited reports from Kebbi State, where Nigerian government officials concealed reports that terrorists killed at least nine people about a week after the United States’ Christmas Day airstrikes on terrorist locations in northern Nigeria.
“Credible community leaders confirmed that information about the killings was officially suppressed, and warnings were issued against speaking out,” Hashim stated.
He further accused the Nigerian government of failing to leverage the U.S Christmas Day airstrikes to dismantle terrorist networks.
“Despite claims by government officials that Nigeria had prior knowledge of the strikes, there was no corresponding deployment of ground forces to intercept or apprehend fleeing insurgents”, he said.
“Surviving terrorists were allowed to escape across the border into Niger Republic. This was a missed strategic opportunity,” he added.
Abductors demand $169,407, 20 motorcycles as ransom
The terrorists who abducted 177 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded $169,407 (₦250 million) and 20 motorcycles as ransom for their release, according to a report by Vanguard.
The Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, reportedly disclosed that the demand made by the terrorists followed the mass abduction on January 18, 2026.
He said the terrorists had earlier accused the Kurmin Wali community of stealing 17 of their motorcycles which they left behind during a military operation in Kajuru Local Government Area.
Christian group reacts
In a statement signed by the Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Wednesday 21 January, 2026 in Abuja, the association stated that the premature dismissal of the reports before proper verification created confusion and undermined public trust.
“It generated confusion, heightened fear, and unfairly questioned the credibility of nearly 170 worshippers, their families, clergy and eyewitnesses who raised the alarm,” the statement read.
“While the need to prevent panic is understandable, caution must not be communicated in ways that suggest denial or indifference,” the statement added.
A Way Forward
Following the launch of a Joint Working Group On Religious Freedom and Security by the governments of the United States and Nigeria, a U.S congressman, Riley Moore, has expressed confidence that Nigeria now has an opportunity to tackle her security challenges decisively.
“Establishing the U.S.–Nigeria Working Group to increase coordination and cooperation between our two counties is an encouraging and necessary step to jointly combat the security challenges facing Nigeria”, Moore wrote via X.
“Nigeria has a once in a lifetime chance to strengthen its relationship with the U.S as we work cooperatively to counter violent terrorism throughout the northern states and middle belt, end the persecution of Christians, and address the broader economic and security challenges the nation faces”, he continued.
“Nigeria now also has a real opportunity to increase its capacity to be a stabilizing force in the region”, he added.
Ebere Inyama reports on conflict for TruthNigeria.
