The scale of the tragedy in Kaduna State has become tragically clear as local community leaders and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have released the names of 177 worshippers confirmed to have been abducted during Wednesday’s coordinated attacks on multiple churches.
The release of the names has turned a national security crisis into a deeply personal tragedy for families across the Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas, as the list reveals that entire families, including infants and the elderly—were marched into the forest.
The Victims: A Community in Mourning
The list, which has been circulating through local news outlets and social media, paints a harrowing picture of the raid’s impact:
Demographics: Of the 177 names, a staggering 92 are women and 45 are children under the age of 15. The youngest victim is reported to be just eight months old, taken along with his mother.
Clergy Affected: At least three presiding pastors and their families are among those taken.
Missing Households: In several instances, four to five members of the same household are listed, leaving homes in the affected villages completely empty.
Security Update: The Search Continues
The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army have intensified their “Operation Forest Sanity” following the publication of the list.
Search & Rescue: Tactical teams are currently utilizing drone surveillance to track movements in the dense forest areas bordering Kaduna and Niger states.
No Ransom Policy: The Federal Government has reiterated its stance against paying ransoms, despite reports that the kidnappers have already begun making contact with some families using the victims’ phones.
Vigilante Support: Local hunters and “Civilian JTF” members are assisting the military, though they remain outgunned by the sophisticated weaponry used by the bandits.
Pressure on the Administration (21 January 2026)
The publication of 177 specific names has shifted the political narrative from “statistical insecurity” to a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
| Stakeholder | Demand / Action |
| National Assembly | Lawmakers have summoned the Service Chiefs for an emergency closed-door session. |
| CAN / Religious Bodies | Have declared a three-day period of fasting and prayer, calling for international intervention. |
| Human Rights Groups | Accusing the government of “gross negligence” in protecting vulnerable religious communities. |
Voice from the Ground
Musa Danjuma, a resident of one of the attacked villages whose wife and two daughters are on the list:
“The names are out for the world to see. These are not just numbers. My daughter was supposed to start her exams next week. Now she is in the bush. We are asking the President: if these were his children, would he still be ‘monitoring the situation’?”
Currently, a temporary information desk has been set up at the Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs for family members to verify names and provide any intelligence received from the kidnappers.
