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Kaduna: List of 177 worshippers released as police deny denying kidnap
The list of the 177 persons kidnapped by gunmen from the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 in Kurmin Walim Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday have been released as the police denied denying there was a kidnap in the community.

Force Public Relations Officer and a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, issued the denial on Tuesday.

Before the denial by Hundeyin, Vanguard News had obtained a Situation Report of the police confirming the incident.

The situation Report read: “Message received from DPO Kajuru indicates that on 18/01/2026 at about 1745hrs an information was received that same date at about 1125hrs, unspecified numbers of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons attacked ECWA church and Cherubim Serafim Church 2 at Kurmin Wali in Kajuru lga, The communities are yet to ascertain the number of worshipers kidnapped to unknown destination, the village is situated in a remote forest area, the DPO mobilized other sister security agencies and the military to the scene which cannot be accessed immediately due to bad road, concerted effort in collaboration with all stakeholders has been intensified to rescue the victims and possibly arrest the perpetrators, investigation has commenced.”

According to the list of victims released on Tuesday by the affected churches, the Jonathan household had 12 members kidnapped, Amos 13, Markus/Makudi 10, Ishaya and Danisa seven each, Bawa six, and Danjuma and Musa five each.

Other families had four, three, and two members abducted, with the age of the oldest victim, Augustine Matthew put at 71, and the youngest, Salvation Idris, six.

Other children include Likita Amos, 6; Jumota Idris, 7; Tessy Amos, 8; Yahaya Joshua, 9; and several 10-year-olds, including Sussana Idris, Synthah Amos, Hezibah and Hezikaiah Jonathan.

The list, written on sheets pulled out from a higher education notebook, continued:
41. Zahaya Joshua

42. Nabilah Makudi

43. Hajara Makudi

44. Rebecca Hosea

45. Ahmad Ahmad

46. Liyu Ezekiel

47. Vivian Ezekiel

48. Goodluck Ezekiel

49. Beauty Ezekiel

50. Matina Maiyashi

51. Bridget Maiyashi

52. Vivian Linus

53. Mary Amos

54. Hamid Amos

55. Patricia Amos

56. Hamisu Amos

57. Luka Amos

58. Tacy Amos

59. Cynthia Amos (guessed)

60. Mercy Isaac

61. Augustine Makudi

62. Matthew Samaila

63. Adam Musa

64. Malika Sule

65. Abu Ahmad

66. Hussein Lucky (guessed)

67. Akinyi Sadiu

68. Dangata Amos

69. Helen Jonathan

70. Asinwa Jonathan

71. Faith Joseph

72. Gloria Kennet

73. Happiness Danisa

74. Fidelis Jacob

75. Tobias Markus

76. Istu Paul

77. Hassana Paul

78. Charity Chindo

79. Christiana Danisa

80. Everest Danima

81. Thomas Philip

82. Catrina Danbosi

83. Halima Hassan

84. Hassan Lukumi

85. Mary Sadiu

86. Franca John

87. Henry Danbiyi

88. Genesis Lawal

89. Ayuba Lawal

90. Solomon Ayuba

91. Theophilus Danlami (guessed)

92. Charles Sambo

93. Rahila Charles

94. Gambo Danisa

95. Talent Danisa

96. Nehemiah Danjuma

97. Maijima Shekarau

98. Matina Maijima

99. Laraba Maijima

100. Musa Danjuma

101. Ishaya Danima

102. Lulu Danisa

103. Clement Ahmad

104. Destiny Ahmad

105. Nehemiah Ishaya

106. Simon Ishaya

107. Nasty Muku

108. Helena Joseph

109. Joseph Bawa

110. Sarah Joseph

111. Bulus Mariya

112. Musa Samaila

113. Bulus Bawa

114. Halima Bawa

115. Beture Hosea

116. Sati Hosea

117. Titus John

118. Dogara Bawa

119. Lories Bawa

120. Adamu Aminu

121. Ezekiel Adamu

122. Tenah Markus

123. Tina Danbosi

124. Patricio Bawa

125. Janet Tsuda

126. Amina Danjuma

127. Sandra Danbosi

128. Bridget Sunday

129. Saphat Innocent (guessed)

130. Alex Sunday

131. Beauty Peter

132. Samisa Paul

133. Joy Joseph

134. Methole Johanna

135. Genesis Johanna

136. Maria Johanna

137. Merozdu Adonu

138. Karimi Jangbe

139. Sunday Martela

140. Santina Hershinga

141. Keuna Michael

142. Hassan Bulus

143. Marzeta Maisoni

144. Mainwa Dominic

145. Godwin Karimi

146. Amos Akijo

147. Nathan Amos

148. Joseph Chindo

149. Lydia Godwin

150. Hamna Maiyangi

151. Toletu Maiyangi

152. Esther Godday

153. Godswill Godday

154. Godlive Samson

155. Goodluck Aliga

156. Madaki Tabawa

157. Tabawa Abba

158. Tabawa Iyamye

159. Samuel Amos

160. Daniel Amos

161. Deborah Amos

162. Ruth Amos

163. Emmanuel Danjuma

164. Joshua Danjuma

165. Rejoice Danisa

166. Blessing Danisa

167. Ibrahim Lawal

168. Zainab Lawal

169. Sadiq Ahmad

170. Aisha Ahmad

171. Yakubu Musa

172. Suleiman Musa

173. Rahama Musa

174. Daniel Jonathan

175. Samuel Jonathan

176. Peter Jonathan

177. Grace Jonathan.

In his statement released late on Tuesday, Hundeyin confirmed the kidnap, adding however that the initial uncertainty followed a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council, convened by Governor Uba Sani, where “some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report, which had earlier been confirmed by the Police, and described it as false”.

He said earlier comments by the Commissioner, Kaduna State Police Command, CP Muhammad Rabiu, were misunderstood.

He said the remarks “were not a denial of the incident but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of those affected”.

He subsequent checks by operational units and intelligence sources have now confirmed that the incident did occur.

Hundeyin said following the confirmation, coordinated security operations have been activated in collaboration with other agencies.

He said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, had ordered the deployment of “critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities”, including tactical units, intensified patrols, and targeted search-and-rescue operations.

The statement also appealed to the public and the media to exercise restraint, urging them to rely on official communications for verified information and to avoid speculation that could undermine ongoing operations.

“The Force remains fully committed to the safety of all citizens and will continue to provide updates as developments unfold,” the FPRO said.