Nigeria Church Crisis: 35 Killed and 175 Abducted in Massive Middle Belt Raids

Christian Persecution In Nigeria 2026

Nigeria Church Crisis: 35 Killed and 175 Abducted in Massive Middle Belt Raids

Christian persecution in Nigeria 2026 has reached a devastating peak as January began with coordinated mass abductions and fatal raids across the country’s Middle Belt.

By Noah Ellis (@NoahReports)

The dawn of 2026 was supposed to usher in a season of hope for the faithful in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, but for the congregations of Kurmin Wali, it brought a nightmare that has frozen the soul of a nation. On Sunday, January 18, while the sun climbed over the hills of Kajuru, a synchronized wave of terror washed over three different church services, leaving behind empty pews and a silence so heavy it can be felt across the globe. As Naija NewsBurrow reporters touched down in the traumatized community, the magnitude of the “Sunday Massacre and Abduction” began to reveal its jagged edges.

The Day Worship Turned to Warfare: Sunday Morning in Kurmin Wali

At exactly 9:00 AM, as the opening hymns of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and two Cherubim and Seraphim parishes rose into the morning air, the sound of motorcycles drowned out the choir. Eyewitnesses told NewsBurrow that the attackers—described as Fulani militants and bandits—arrived in three distinct, military-style formations. They didn’t just come to kill; they came to harvest souls for ransom. In a matter of minutes, the sacred sanctuary of worship was transformed into a staging ground for a mass abduction that has now seen nearly 175 Christians disappeared into the unforgiving bush of the Middle Belt.

The terror was not limited to the kidnappings. While the world focused on the missing, the earth in the neighboring states of Plateau, Benue, and Taraba was already damp with the blood of 35 other believers. These coordinated strikes, occurring between January 1 and January 12, suggest a deliberate, seasonal offensive. The asymmetry of the violence is staggering; where there is a cross, there is now a target. For many in the region, Christian persecution in Nigeria 2026 is no longer a political catchphrase—it is a struggle for biological survival.

State	Fatalities (Jan 2026)	Primary Targets	Incident Date
Kaduna	177 Abducted	ECWA, C&S Churches	Jan 18
Plateau	12 Killed	Farming Communities	Jan 1–9
Benue	13 Killed	Otobi Akpa Village	Jan 5–12
Taraba	10 Killed	Four Local Villages	Jan 10

Denial as a Policy: The Government’s Information Gag

Perhaps more chilling than the guns of the militants was the initial silence from the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force. For the first 48 hours following the Kurmin Wali raid, official channels labeled reports of the mass abduction as “mere falsehood” and “fear-mongering.” This “policy of denial” has become a secondary trauma for the victims’ families. It was only after Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and local advocacy groups published a verified list of names that the authorities were forced to admit the reality of the crisis.

This information blockade is seen by many analysts as a desperate attempt to avoid international sanctions. With the U.S. administration recently designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), the federal government is walking a tightrope. However, for the 166 souls still in captivity, every hour spent in denial by the government is an hour closer to death. The NewsBurrow investigation reveals that local community leaders had warned of unusual motorcycle movements days before the attack, yet no security was dispatched to the “Red Zone” of Kajuru.

Abduction Trends: Jan 2025 vs Jan 2026
(Estimated Captives)200 |          *
|          *
150 |     * *
|     * *
100 |     * *
|     * *
50 |     * *
|     * *
0 |_____________
2025   2026

The Missing Shepherd: The Abduction of Pastor Daniel Bagama

In a separate but equally harrowing incident in the Chikun Local Government Area, the Baptist community has been struck at its heart. Pastor Daniel Bagama, a prominent cleric, was abducted along with his three daughters from their home in Tudun Bussa village late Sunday night. The gunmen reportedly ignored other valuables in the house, heading straight for the Pastor’s residence—a move that local leaders say confirms that faith leaders are being specifically hunted to demoralize the Christian community.

The abduction of Pastor Bagama and his children has sent shockwaves through the Kaduna Baptist Conference. “They aren’t just taking our people; they are taking our shepherds,” one congregant whispered to our reporters, fearing for their own safety. The strategy is clear: by removing the pillars of the community, the militants aim to trigger a mass exodus of Christians from fertile farming lands in the Middle Belt, effectively altering the demographic map of the region through terror.

The Rijana Shadow: A Look into the Bandit Torture Camps

Where are the 175 captives? All leads point toward the Rijana Forest and the vast, ungoverned spaces of the Kajuru-Chikun axis. These are not just hideouts; they are sophisticated criminal enclaves where “haraji” (levies) are demanded from local villages just for the right to exist. Survivors who have managed to escape describe “The Shadow Camps” as open-air prisons where victims are tied to trees and subjected to psychological torture until ransoms are paid.

NewsBurrow Nigeria has learned that the ransom demands for the churchgoers have already begun to trickle in through frantic phone calls to community leaders. The “market value” of a Christian captive is reportedly higher than that of others, as kidnappers believe church networks can mobilize funds faster. This commodification of faith is the darkest chapter of the 2026 security crisis. Below are the primary locations identified by local intelligence as high-risk transit routes for the captives:

• The Maro-Kajuru Axis: Where recent travel interceptions occurred.
• Tudun Bussa Wilderness: The suspected path taken with Pastor Bagama and his daughters.
• The Rijana Deep Forest: The ultimate destination for long-term hostages.

Global Eyes and “Guns A-Blazing”: The International Pressure Cooker

The Christian persecution in Nigeria 2026 has caught the attention of Washington D.C. like never before. With Open Doors ranking Nigeria as the 7th most dangerous country for Christians, there are growing calls for the U.S. to implement the “Guns A-Blazing” policy—a series of targeted sanctions and military aid withdrawals if the Buhari administration (or its successors) fails to stop the bloodshed. The recent report showing that Nigeria accounts for 72% of all Christian killings worldwide has stripped away the “communal clash” narrative that once shielded the government.

There is a “shock factor” emerging in international circles: the realization that this is not just a battle over grazing land, but an ideological war. The emergence of an “Islamic militant Fulani” faction, as reported by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, has changed the stakes. These groups now use social media to “brag about killing infidels,” creating a digital echo chamber of hate that fuels the physical violence on the ground. The question remains: Will Nigeria act before the international community steps in to police its borders?

The Remnant’s Cry: Mobilizing for a Stolen Future

Despite the empty pews and the burnt churches, the spirit of the Middle Belt Christians remains stubbornly alive. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for seven days of mourning and prayer, but they are also calling for action. “We can no longer pray for safety while our government hides behind denials,” said a senior CAN official. There is a growing movement for community self-defense, as villagers realize they are the last line of protection against a marauding force that the army seems unable—or unwilling—to stop.

As we conclude this report from the frontlines of faith, the list of 177 names from Kurmin Wali serves as a ledger of a nation’s failure. Naija NewsBurrow will continue to monitor the negotiations and rescue efforts for Pastor Bagama, his daughters, and the hundreds of others held in the Rijana shadow. This is more than a news story; it is a test of Nigeria’s very existence as a secular, multi-faith republic. The world is watching, and the Middle Belt is waiting for its children to come home.

Join the Conversation: Do you believe the government’s denial of these attacks is a tactical error or a deliberate cover-up? How can we better protect our faith leaders in the Middle Belt? Share your thoughts below and stand with the families of the abducted.

As we navigate the sobering reality of the Sunday massacre in Kurmin Wali and the ongoing abductions that have left families in despair, the weight of the crisis can feel insurmountable. For those standing in solidarity with the suffering, the call to action often begins in the quietest moments of reflection and intercession. In seasons of such profound tragedy, maintaining a spiritual anchor is not just a matter of tradition, but a vital lifeline for resilience and hope against the shadows of violence.

The stories of survivors like Joseph Bawa and the resilience of congregations under fire remind us that while the body may be targeted, the spirit remains an unconquerable fortress. To help process these heavy narratives and sustain a consistent prayer life for our displaced brothers and sisters, many believers are finding strength in structured spiritual reflection. This discipline helps transform overwhelming grief into focused advocacy and a recorded history of God’s faithfulness amidst the storm.

We encourage you to join the conversation in our community by sharing your thoughts below and subscribing to the Naija NewsBurrow newsletter for critical security updates and stories of hope. Below, we have curated a selection of resources designed to help you document your spiritual journey, stay organized in your daily intercessions, and keep the flame of faith burning bright during these trying times. Explore these tools to strengthen your own walk and deepen your commitment to the persecuted church.

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Nigeria church attacks, Kaduna kidnapping 2026, Christian persecution reports, Middle Belt violence, Nigerian religious freedom