A United States lawmaker, Rep. Riley M. Moore, has condemned the abduction of over 100 Christian worshippers in Kaduna State, describing the attacks as an existential threat to Christians in Nigeria and urging the Federal Government to act swiftly.
Reacting to reports of the mass kidnapping, Moore said armed Fulani militants had stormed three churches during Sunday services, forcibly abducting worshippers in what he described as a horrific and targeted assault on Christians.
“Our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing an existential threat at the hands of the Fulani militants,” Moore said. “More must be done to protect them, and I urge the Nigerian government to ensure the swift and safe return of all those who were captured.”
The lawmaker’s reaction followed reports that bandits attacked multiple churches in the Kurmin Wali area of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, abducting congregants while services were ongoing.
A source with family members among the victims told SaharaReporters that the assailants arrived in large numbers and forcibly took worshippers away from the churches.
According to reports, the attackers later released about ten vulnerable victims, while more than 100 others remain in captivity.
Security agencies have been alerted, but as of the time of filing this report, no official statement has been issued by the Kaduna State Government or security authorities regarding the incident.
The latest abduction adds to a growing pattern of violent attacks in Kaduna, particularly in Southern Kaduna communities, which have repeatedly come under assault by armed bandits.
Earlier this month, bandits reportedly killed four members of a family during an overnight attack in Kachia town, near the newly established Federal University of Applied Science, the headquarters of Kachia Local Government Area.
The victims were identified as Mr. Bitrus Bahago, his wife Justina, their son Ibrahim, and a relative, Adam Waziri.
Residents described that attack as terrifying, noting that armed groups continue to operate freely despite the presence of major institutions and security formations in the area.
Moore’s intervention has once again drawn international attention to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis and renewed calls for decisive action to protect vulnerable communities and places of worship.
