Nigerian Police Confirm Villagers Abducted by Gunmen

The head of a Christian church alliance says 172 people were kidnapped by armed men, and that nine later escaped.

In Nigeria’s Kaduna State, armed bandits abducted at least 172 villagers during a church service, with nine subsequently escaping, leaving 163 still unaccounted for. Police initially denied the abduction but later confirmed it and launched operations to rescue the victims. The attackers demanded the return of stolen motorcycles as a condition for the release of the hostages. This incident marks a continuation of mass kidnappings in Nigeria’s northern and central regions, which frequently target both Christians and Muslims.