Suspected terrorists responsible for the abduction of at least 166 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have reportedly increased their ransom demand to ₦250 million and 20 motorcycles.
The village head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, revealed this development on Tuesday while speaking about the worsening situation in the community. The abduction followed an attack in which armed men stormed three churches in the area, marking one of the largest mass kidnappings recorded in recent times.
According to Dan’azumi, the incident occurred on January 18, 2026, when gunmen invaded Kurmin Wali village during church services. Men, women, and young people were seized without discrimination and taken into the forest.
He explained that the new ransom demand is completely unrealistic for the rural community, which has already suffered repeated attacks and severe economic hardship. Appealing for help, the traditional leader called on the government and security agencies to urgently intervene and secure the release of the abducted worshippers.
Kajuru Local Government Area, located in southern Kaduna, has long struggled with insecurity. Residents have endured years of bandit attacks, kidnappings, killings, and the destruction of homes, forcing many families to flee and abandon their farmlands and means of survival.
Community leaders are now pressing the Kaduna State Government and security forces to intensify rescue operations and strengthen security presence to prevent further attacks on vulnerable villages.
Following the abduction, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, visited one of the affected churches in
