By Editor
The identities of 177 worshippers abducted on Sunday at three churches in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna state have been revealed.
On Sunday, gunmen attacked three churches in the community and whisked away more than 100 worshippers.
However, on Monday, the Kaduna police command dismissed the report as falsehood spread by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to disrupt the state’s relative peace.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kaduna, Muhammad Rabiu, commissioner of police, challenged persons spreading the reports to provide names and details of the victims, insisting that there was no record of such abductions.
Their denial drew criticism from Nigerians, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide-Nigeria (CSW-N), a human rights group, who accused security operatives of obstructing efforts to independently verify the incident.
The group said soldiers prevented their team from accessing the community during a fact-finding visit, despite presenting proper identification.
The list was issued on Wednesday by Sebastine Barde, president of the Adara Development Association (ADA), an umbrella body for Adara Ethnic Nationality in Kajuru and Kachia LGAs of Kaduna state.
It shows repeated surnames, indicating that entire households were abducted together.
Some families especially hit hard include the Amos family, which has 13 members in captivity, the Jonathan family with 12, at least nine members of the Markus family, and six from the Markudi family.
The oldest on the list is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest is five-year-old Salvation Idris.
‘FG WASTING RESOURCES ON PROPAGANDA
Reacting to the incident, Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023 election, condemned the abduction, describing it as “yet another unfortunate consequence of a nation where insecurity has been allowed to grow, unchecked and unchallenged”.
Obi said the incident highlights a “greater crisis of safety, leadership, and unity” in the country, noting that Nigerians are forced to wake up to “news of mass abductions, disputed figures, and official denials while citizens live in fear”.
He drew attention to similar attacks in other states, including Benue, Zamfara, Kano, Niger, and Plateau, emphasising that “Nigeria is not at war, yet here we are again, counting victims with inconsistencies that surpass those of nations at war”.
Obi criticised the government for prioritising resources for “waste, propaganda, and foreign lobbyists” instead of protecting citizens, adding that “a government that can mobilize resources for everything else, but cannot secure communities or protect its people, has misplaced its priorities
“To the people of Kaduna, you are not alone. We stand with you, and to the families whose loved ones were taken, we share in your pain,” Obi said.
“We pray and hope that those abducted will be found and returned safely, and that those injured in the course of this attack receive swift and full medical rehabilitation
He called on relevant authorities to act decisively and ensure the safe release of the victims.
The attack comes barely a week after N2.6 million ransom was reportedly paid by the same community to bandits to secure the release of 20 residents previously abducted.
See full list below
- Samson Naallah
- Ezekiel Naallah
- Christopher Naallah
- Martin Samson
- Moses Samson
- Clever Godwin
- Jerusalem Chindo
- Markus Markus
- Benjamin Markus
- Albert Markus
- Ofelana Markus
- Linus Markus
- Hassana Linus
- Ojo Bamboya
- Esther Ojo
- Mary Jonathan
- George Jonathan
- Careful Jonathan
- EF James
- Morin Boniface
- Junior James
- Happiness Jonathan
- Honest Jonathan
- Honesty Jonathan
- Faith Luka
- Beauty Luka
- Junior Luka
- Rosemary Luka
- Dorothy Luka
- Selina Luka
- Alice Bamboya
- Magdalena Godwin
- Hassan Ishaya
- Lazarus Ishaya
- Marta Ishaya
- Zummunta Ishaya
- Salvation Ishaya
- Susana Linus
- Jummal Linus
- Peace Joshua
- Zahaya Joshua
- Nabilah Makudi
43.Hajara Makudi - Rebecca Hosea
- Ahmad Ahmad
- Liyu Ezekiel
- Vivian Ezekiel
- Goodluck Ezekiel
- Beauty Ezekiel
- Matina Maiyashi
- Bridget Maiyashi
- Vivian Linus
- Mary Amos
- Hamid Amos
- Patricia Amos
- Hamisu Amos
- Luka Amos
- Tacy Amos
- Cynthia Amos
- Mercy Isaac
- Augustine Makudi
- Matthew Samaila
- Adam Musa
- Malika Sule
- Abu Ahmad
- Hussein Lucky
- Akinyi Sadiu
- Dangata Amos
- Helen Jonathan
- Asinwa Jonathan
- Faith Joseph
- Gloria Kennet
- Happiness Danisa
- Fidelis Jacob
- Tobias Markus
- Istu Paul
- Hassana Paul
- Charity Chindo
- Christiana Danisa
- Everest Danima
- Thomas Philip
- Catrina Danbosi
- Halima Hassan
- Hassan Lukumi
- Mary Sadiu
- Franca John
- Henry Danbiyi
- Ayuba Lawal
- Solomon Ayuba
- Theophilus Danlami
- Charles Sambo
- Rahila Charles
- Gambo Danisa
- Talent Danisa
- Nehemiah Danjuma
- Maijima Shekarau
- Matina Maijima
- Laraba Maijima
- Musa Danjuma
- Ishaya Danima
- Lulu Danisa
- Clement Ahmad
- Destiny Ahmad
- Nehemiah Ishaya
- Simon Ishaya
- Nasty Muku
- Helena Joseph
- Joseph Bawa
- Sarah Joseph
- Bulus Mariya
- Musa Samaila
- Bulus Bawa
- Halima Bawa
- Beture Hosea
- Sati Hosea
- Titus John
- Dogara Bawa
- Lories Bawa
- Adamu Aminu
- Ezekiel Adamu
- Tenah Markus
- Tina Danbosi
- Patricio Bawa
- Janet Tsuda
- Amina Danjuma
- Sandra Danbosi
- Bridget Sunday
- Saphat Innocent
- Alex Sunday
- Beauty Peter
- Samisa Paul
- Joy Joseph
- Methole Johanna
- Genesis Johanna
- Maria Johanna
- Merozdu Adonu
- Karimi Jangbe
- Sunday Martela
- Santina Hershinga
- Keuna Michael
- Hassan Bulus
- Marzeta Maisoni
- Mainwa Dominic
- Godwin Karimi
- Amos Akijo
- Nathan Amos
- Joseph Chindo
- Lydia Godwin
- Hamna Maiyangi
- Toletu Maiyangi
- Esther Godday
- Godswill Godday
- Godlive Samson
- Goodluck Aliga
- Madaki Tabawa
- Tabawa Abba
- Tabawa Iyamye
- Samuel Amos
- Daniel Amos
- Deborah Amos
- Ruth Amos
- Emmanuel Danjuma
- Joshua Danjuma
- Rejoice Danisa
- Blessing Danisa
- Ibrahim Lawal
- Zainab Lawal
- Sadiq Ahmad
- Aisha Ahmad
- Yakubu Musa
- Suleiman Musa
- Rahama Musa
- Daniel Jonathan
- Samuel Jonathan
- Peter Jonathan
- Grace Jonathan
