Kaduna Church Abduction: List of 177 worshippers released as police backtrack on denying kidnap
The list of the 177 persons kidnapped by gunmen from the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 in Kurmin Walim Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday have been released as the police denied denying there was a kidnap in the community.
Force Public Relations Officer and a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, issued the denial on Tuesday.
Before the denial by Hundeyin, Vanguard News had obtained a Situation Report of the police confirming the incident.
The situation Report read: “Message received from DPO Kajuru indicates that on 18/01/2026 at about 1745hrs an information was received that same date at about 1125hrs, unspecified numbers of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons attacked ECWA church and Cherubim Serafim Church 2 at Kurmin Wali in Kajuru lga, The communities are yet to ascertain the number of worshipers kidnapped to unknown destination, the village is situated in a remote forest area, the DPO mobilized other sister security agencies and the military to the scene which cannot be accessed immediately due to bad road, concerted effort in collaboration with all stakeholders has been intensified to rescue the victims and possibly arrest the perpetrators, investigation has commenced.”
According to the list of victims released on Tuesday by the affected churches, the Jonathan household had 12 members kidnapped, Amos 13, Markus/Makudi 10, Ishaya and Danisa seven each, Bawa six, and Danjuma and Musa five each.
Other families had four, three, and two members abducted, with the age of the oldest victim, Augustine Matthew put at 71, and the youngest, Salvation Idris, six.
Other children include Likita Amos, 6; Jumota Idris, 7; Tessy Amos, 8; Yahaya Joshua, 9; and several 10-year-olds, including Sussana Idris, Synthah Amos, Hezibah and Hezikaiah Jonathan.
The list, written on sheets pulled out from a higher education notebook, continued:
41. Zahaya Joshua
42. Nabilah Makudi
43. Hajara Makudi
44. Rebecca Hosea
45. Ahmad Ahmad
46. Liyu Ezekiel
47. Vivian Ezekiel
48. Goodluck Ezekiel
49. Beauty Ezekiel
50. Matina Maiyashi
51. Bridget Maiyashi
52. Vivian Linus
53. Mary Amos
54. Hamid Amos
55. Patricia Amos
56. Hamisu Amos
57. Luka Amos
58. Tacy Amos
59. Cynthia Amos (guessed)
60. Mercy Isaac
61. Augustine Makudi
62. Matthew Samaila
63. Adam Musa
64. Malika Sule
65. Abu Ahmad
66. Hussein Lucky (guessed)
67. Akinyi Sadiu
68. Dangata Amos
69. Helen Jonathan
70. Asinwa Jonathan
71. Faith Joseph
72. Gloria Kennet
73. Happiness Danisa
74. Fidelis Jacob
75. Tobias Markus
76. Istu Paul
77. Hassana Paul
78. Charity Chindo
79. Christiana Danisa
80. Everest Danima
81. Thomas Philip
82. Catrina Danbosi
83. Halima Hassan
84. Hassan Lukumi
85. Mary Sadiu
86. Franca John
87. Henry Danbiyi
88. Genesis Lawal
89. Ayuba Lawal
90. Solomon Ayuba
91. Theophilus Danlami (guessed)
92. Charles Sambo
93. Rahila Charles
94. Gambo Danisa
95. Talent Danisa
96. Nehemiah Danjuma
97. Maijima Shekarau
98. Matina Maijima
99. Laraba Maijima
100. Musa Danjuma
101. Ishaya Danima
102. Lulu Danisa
103. Clement Ahmad
104. Destiny Ahmad
105. Nehemiah Ishaya
106. Simon Ishaya
107. Nasty Muku
108. Helena Joseph
109. Joseph Bawa
110. Sarah Joseph
111. Bulus Mariya
112. Musa Samaila
113. Bulus Bawa
114. Halima Bawa
115. Beture Hosea
116. Sati Hosea
117. Titus John
118. Dogara Bawa
119. Lories Bawa
120. Adamu Aminu
121. Ezekiel Adamu
122. Tenah Markus
123. Tina Danbosi
124. Patricio Bawa
125. Janet Tsuda
126. Amina Danjuma
127. Sandra Danbosi
128. Bridget Sunday
129. Saphat Innocent (guessed)
130. Alex Sunday
131. Beauty Peter
132. Samisa Paul
133. Joy Joseph
134. Methole Johanna
135. Genesis Johanna
136. Maria Johanna
137. Merozdu Adonu
138. Karimi Jangbe
139. Sunday Martela
140. Santina Hershinga
141. Keuna Michael
142. Hassan Bulus
143. Marzeta Maisoni
144. Mainwa Dominic
145. Godwin Karimi
146. Amos Akijo
147. Nathan Amos
148. Joseph Chindo
149. Lydia Godwin
150. Hamna Maiyangi
151. Toletu Maiyangi
152. Esther Godday
153. Godswill Godday
154. Godlive Samson
155. Goodluck Aliga
156. Madaki Tabawa
157. Tabawa Abba
158. Tabawa Iyamye
159. Samuel Amos
160. Daniel Amos
161. Deborah Amos
162. Ruth Amos
163. Emmanuel Danjuma
164. Joshua Danjuma
165. Rejoice Danisa
166. Blessing Danisa
167. Ibrahim Lawal
168. Zainab Lawal
169. Sadiq Ahmad
170. Aisha Ahmad
171. Yakubu Musa
172. Suleiman Musa
173. Rahama Musa
174. Daniel Jonathan
175. Samuel Jonathan
176. Peter Jonathan
177. Grace Jonathan.
In his statement released late on Tuesday, Hundeyin confirmed the kidnap, adding however that the initial uncertainty followed a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council, convened by Governor Uba Sani, where “some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report, which had earlier been confirmed by the Police, and described it as false”.
He said earlier comments by the Commissioner, Kaduna State Police Command, CP Muhammad Rabiu, were misunderstood.
He said the remarks “were not a denial of the incident but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of those affected”.
He subsequent checks by operational units and intelligence sources have now confirmed that the incident did occur.
Hundeyin said following the confirmation, coordinated security operations have been activated in collaboration with other agencies.
He said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, had ordered the deployment of “critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities”, including tactical units, intensified patrols, and targeted search-and-rescue operations.
The statement also appealed to the public and the media to exercise restraint, urging them to rely on official communications for verified information and to avoid speculation that could undermine ongoing operations.
“The Force remains fully committed to the safety of all citizens and will continue to provide updates as developments unfold,” the FPRO said.
