Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted more than 100 worshippers during Sunday church services in Kaduna State, sparking renewed fears over the worsening security situation in parts of the state.
The incident reportedly occurred in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, where the assailants carried out coordinated attacks on three churches. The worshippers were said to be in the middle of church services when the attackers struck.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the gunmen arrived in large numbers and launched near-simultaneous raids on the churches, overpowering the congregations before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from security authorities. Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone were not answered.
The abduction adds to a growing list of attacks on religious gatherings and communities in Kaduna and other parts of northern Nigeria, raising concerns among residents and civil society groups over the safety of worshippers and the effectiveness of current security measures.
