NYCN Kajuru Condemns Kurmin Wali Mass Abduction, Faults LGA Leadership Over Security Claims
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kajuru Branch, has condemned the mass abduction of worshippers in Kurmin Wali community, Afogo Ward, describing the incident as a grave failure of security and a reflection of worsening insecurity across Kajuru Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the youth body confirmed that 167 worshippers were abducted on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when armed bandits invaded Kurmin Wali at about 9:00 a.m.
According to the NYCN, the attackers arrived on dozens of motorcycles and split into groups to simultaneously attack three churches—ECWA, Albarka Cherubim and Seraphim 1, and Haske Cherubim and Seraphim 2.
The council disclosed that although some elderly women and children were later released and 11 victims reportedly escaped, the majority of those abducted remain in captivity.
The group noted that the attack followed an earlier abduction on January 11, when 21 residents were kidnapped and later freed after a ₦7 million ransom was allegedly paid, signaling what it described as an alarming escalation of violence in the area.
NYCN Kajuru stated that the Kurmin Wali incident is part of a broader pattern of insecurity affecting the entire local government.
The group cited recent attacks in Rafin Roro (Kasuwan Magani axis), Ungwan Gamu in Maro Ward, and Kufana, where a violent incident reportedly claimed the life of Hon. Samuel Dangiwa Kufana and others.
According to the statement, persistent attacks have displaced thousands of residents and disrupted education, farming, and commercial activities across Kajuru communities.
The youth council criticized the Kajuru Local Government Chairman, who also serves as the Chief Security Officer of the LGA, accusing him of downplaying the severity of the security situation.
The statement expressed disappointment over what it described as attempts to portray Kajuru as safe, referencing a recent political media event held at Kajuru Castle, which the group labeled a public relations exercise disconnected from realities on the ground.
The NYCN further alleged that the chairman, accompanied by security personnel, prevented humanitarian observers from accessing Kurmin Wali to assess the aftermath of the January 18 attack.
The group described this as prioritizing political image over the safety and welfare of residents.
Additionally, the council declared that a purported peace agreement with bandits in the Buda area had failed, arguing that continued attacks show such arrangements have not delivered security or deterrence.
Calling for urgent intervention, the NYCN appealed to Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, to take decisive action to secure the release of the abducted worshippers and to restructure the security framework in Kajuru.
The group advocated for stronger collaboration with local communities and the empowerment of residents to participate in protecting their villages, expressing confidence that the Kaduna Peace Model could help restore stability if effectively implemented.
The statement was signed by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kajuru Branch.
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