NewzVille International
Armed bandits have abducted worshippers from two churches in Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria, in the latest episode of mass kidnappings in the region. Police say dozens were taken, while a senior church leader put the number at more than 160.
Nigerian troops and other security agencies have been deployed to the area, and efforts are underway to track the abductors and rescue the captives.
Northwest Nigeria has seen a surge in mass kidnappings targeting villages, schools, and places of worship.
Experts say these kidnappings have “consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry,” generating about $1.6 million in ransom between July 2024 and June 2025.
In November 2025, armed gangs seized more than 300 students and teachers from a Catholic school in Niger state. Fifty escaped, while the rest were released in two batches weeks later.
U.S. President Donald Trump has increased pressure on the Nigerian government over attacks on Christians. In December 2025, the U.S. bombed Islamic State camps in Sokoto state, in a move approved by Nigerian authorities.
