Nigerian police confirm gunmen abducted villagers, after initial denials

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Ted RegenciaJanuary 21, 2026 at 06:07 AM

AI Summary

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Nigerian police confirmed that armed bandits abducted villagers in Kaduna State on Sunday, after initially denying the incident. The confirmation followed reports from a Christian church alliance stating 172 people were kidnapped, with nine later escaping. While police did not specify the number abducted, a state lawmaker estimated 168 missing, and the church leader cited 163. Police stated the initial denials were to prevent panic while verifying facts and that security operations are underway to rescue the victims. The incident is the latest in a series of mass kidnappings for ransom carried out by gangs in northern and central Nigeria, targeting both Christians and Muslims.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kurmin Wali 40% Ahmed Idris 40% Reuters 50% Associated Press 50% Christian Association of Nigeria 60% Usman Danlami Stingo 60% Benjamin Hundeyin 70% Reverend John Hayab 70% Bandits ×280% Kaduna State ×380% Nigeria ×590%

Keywords

kidnapping 100% nigeria 90% gunmen 80% villagers 70% kaduna state 70% bandits 60% ransom 50% security operations 40% christian association of nigeria 40%