Seventeen worshippers abducted during attacks on churches in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, died in captivity, while eight others were released after five months, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Nigeria has said.
The organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Rev. Dr Yunusa Nmadu, disclosed this at an event marking the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) at ECWA Goodnews Church, Kaduna.
Nmadu said gunmen abducted 37 worshippers from three churches in the community during Sunday services on April 5, 2026. Twelve escaped at different times, 17 died in captivity and eight were eventually released, he said.
Speaking on the theme, “Light in the Darkest Places,” Nmadu also said 11 people were abducted in Awon village, also in Kachia LGA, on April 20, 2026. One escaped, six were confirmed dead, and four remained in captivity six months later, reportedly in critical condition.
He also recalled the abduction of 177 worshippers from three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru LGA, during Sunday services on January 18, 2026. Nmadu said the government initially denied the incident but later acknowledged it following interventions by organisations, including CSW. The abducted worshippers were released after 18 days in captivity, he said.
Nmadu described the incidents as part of a pattern of attacks, killings and mass abductions across Kachia, Kajuru, Kauru, Kagarko and other parts of Kaduna State. He said the violence had forced thousands of residents to flee their ancestral communities.
He expressed concern that insecurity had restricted freedom of worship in some affected areas, with Christians afraid to attend church services because of the risk of attack or abduction.
Nmadu alleged that Christians made up about 99 per cent of victims in several affected communities. He also raised concerns about the treatment of abductees, particularly women and children, alleging that captives faced sexual violence, starvation and other inhumane conditions.
According to Nmadu, male and female captives were held in separate camps, where their movements were restricted and access to necessities, including drinking water, controlled by their abductors. He alleged that some women, including nursing mothers and elderly women, were repeatedly sexually assaulted. Some women who regained their freedom reportedly returned home pregnant, he said.
He added that captives sometimes went several days without food and had limited access to soap and other hygiene products.
Nmadu also referred to the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu, who was abducted in February 2018, describing her case as a reminder of the prolonged ordeal faced by people held because of their Christian faith.
He further alleged that in parts of the North-East, Christian passengers were singled out and abducted during attacks on commercial vehicles, while passengers of other religious backgrounds were allowed to go.
Calling for greater solidarity with victims of religious persecution, Nmadu urged Christians to remember those in captivity and support efforts to secure their release.
He said CSW had worked in Nigeria for more than 17 years to promote freedom of religion or belief by documenting human rights violations, supporting victims and survivors, training human rights defenders and engaging with government institutions.
“Behind every report and every statistic is a person: a widow, a child, a pastor, a family who has lost a home or a loved one. They are not numbers to us. They are our brothers and sisters, and when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer with it,” he said.
Nmadu urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith and show solidarity with persecuted believers, citing John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
