Gunmen who abducted 166 worshippers from Kurmin Wali, a community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have demanded N29 million as a precondition before opening negotiations for the release of the captives.
Sources familiar with the situation said the abductors are insisting that the community first pays compensation for 17 motorcycles allegedly lost during recent military operations in the area. The gunmen reportedly valued each motorcycle at N1.7 million, bringing the total demand to N29m.
The attack occurred on Sunday, January 18, when heavily armed assailants stormed Kurmin Wali and simultaneously attacked three churches during worship sessions.
Witnesses said the gunmen fired sporadically to instil fear, forcing worshippers to flee before rounding up men, women and youths and marching them into nearby forests.
Security sources said 11 of the abducted worshippers, believed to be elderly persons and children, were later released, leaving 166 people still in captivity.
The incident initially generated confusion after Kaduna State Government officials downplayed reports of mass abduction, but the state police command later confirmed that worshippers were taken during the coordinated attack.
Residents said the assault lasted several hours, with little resistance, as the attackers exploited the area’s rugged terrain and limited security presence.
The gunmen were said to have escaped along bush paths linking Kajuru to neighbouring forest corridors.
Since the attack, Kurmin Wali has been largely deserted, with residents fleeing to nearby towns and villages for safety. Schools have been shut, farmlands abandoned, and commercial activities grounded as fear grips the area.
Community leaders said the kidnappers contacted families of the victims through intermediaries, making it clear that no ransom discussion would begin until the alleged compensation for the motorcycles was paid.
Security operatives are said to be conducting search-and-rescue operations, although residents expressed concern over the slow pace of response and the growing humanitarian impact of the displacement.
The Kajuru axis has remained a hotspot for banditry and mass kidnappings, despite repeated security operations by the military and other agencies.