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See names of 177 abducted Christian worshippers in Kaduna
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The identities of the 177 persons kidnapped from ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 at Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday have been revealed.
The list paints a harrowing picture of entire families taken away from their homes and places of worship, leaving the community traumatised and virtually empty of able-bodied residents.
The raid came barely a week after the same community paid N2.6 million ransom to secure the release of 20 residents previously abducted, Vanguard reliably gathered.
While government and security operatives denied the incident, a Police situation report obtained by Vanguard confirmed the attack occurred during church services.
The report stated that information was received at about 5:45pm, on Sunday, indicating that the assailants struck around 11:25am, firing sporadically and forcing worshippers to flee into the surrounding forest.
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”.
As of yesterday, the village was deserted. Those who escaped had fled to nearby communities to stay with relatives and friends.
Some who sustained injuries during the escape were reportedly still in shock, while poor network coverage and lost phones made it difficult to reach them for comment.
Analysis of the 177 victims
Analysis of the 177 names obtained by Vanguard revealed that entire households were abducted. Families such as the Jonathan household had 12 members kidnapped; the Amos family 13; Markus/Makudi 10; Ishaya and Danisa seven each; Bawa six, Danjuma and Musa five each.
Other families saw four, three, or two members taken away. The oldest victim is 71-year-old Augustina Matthew, while the youngest, Salvation Idris, is a child of 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 denial by government officials has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups. Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, CSW-N which insisted that the abduction occurred and accused security agents of obstructing independent verification.
CSW-N Research and Press Officer Reuben Buhari said: “Thirty minutes after the incident, as the team was about to enter Kurmin Wali, CSW-N encountered a military convoy, including the chairman of Kajuru Local Government, which was leaving the community.
“They later refused to allow CSW-N team entry, despite repeated pleas and after the team showed full identification.
“The military officer who stopped the CSW-N said there was a standing order not to allow us in. Consequently, our team turned and was escorted to the main road, back to Kaduna.”
CSW-N added that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, split into three groups, and simultaneously targeted the churches.
“Elderly women and young children were later released, while 11 reportedly escaped, leaving 167 in captivity at the time of the organisation’s engagement with community sources,’’ the group stated.
CAN Chairman speaks
The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Rev. Dr. Joseph Hayab, accused security agents of enabling the bandits to escape with large number of victims.
He said: “If the security agents had gone after the bandits, they would have prevented them from taking the victims to where they are now hiding. Instead, the security agents only helped the bandits move the victims to a place where they could conceal them and make their demands.
“Had they pursued the attackers immediately, instead of arguing over whether anyone had, indeed, been kidnapped, they would have chased them away, whether they were right or wrong.”
International condemnation pours in
In his reaction, US lawmaker, Rep. Riley Moore, described the abduction as “horrific news” and urged the Nigerian government to ensure swift and safe return of the victims.
He tweeted: “Our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing an existential threat at the hands of the Fulani militants. 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.”
Another unfortunate incident — Peter Obi
Similarly, former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also raised alarm over the incident, describing it as “unacceptable” and highlighting the recurring pattern of mass abductions across Nigeria.
He said: “I have just been informed that yet again, at the weekend, about 172 worshippers were abducted from churches in Kaduna. This is another unfortunate consequence of a nation where insecurity has been allowed to grow unchecked and unchallenged.
“Even with official denials, we must ask ourselves hard questions, can we continue waking up to news of mass abductions, disputed figures, and denials while citizens live in fear?”
Obi stressed that authorities must act swiftly to rescue the victims and prevent further occurrences, adding that “Nigeria deserves a government that treats human life as sacred. The time to stop this insecurity is now.”
Recall that the state government, state police command and chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area on Monday dismissed reports of mass abduction in the state, challenging those confirming the attack to release the names of those abducted.
Bandits kidnap nursing mother, two others at Kujama before Kajuru’s mass abduction, demand N150m ransom
Prior to the mass abduction, the bandits had earlier on Sunday morning, swooped on Kujama community in Southern Kaduna and took away a nursing mother with her three-month-old baby.
But, they inexplicably left behind the toddler and disappeared with her mother, despite pleas by frightened and grieving neighbours on the bandits to spare the woman because of her baby.
A man in Kujama, whose sister was also taken away with her nine-year-old son, revealed in Abuja yesterday that the kidnappers have demanded the immediate payment of N50 million as a condition to release the three persons they took away that morning.
The man, who gave his name as Anthony Yisa, told Vanguard that the bandits warned that the family of the nursing mother must pay them N50 million as a condition to free her to reunite with her suckling infant or be killed with immediate effect.
Yisa also told our correspondent that the bandits were asking for N100 million ransom for another woman, whose name was given as Alice Bitrus, and her son, David, who they abducted in the Sunday dawn raid in Kujama, a stone’s throw from Kajuru, all in Kaduna State.
Apart from abducting the two mothers and a son, the kidnappers also inflicted serious injuries on the husbands of the women who tried to prevent them from making away with their spouses.
The witness told Vanguard that the knife injuries inflicted on the two men were severe and that none of them might be able to use his hands again due to deep cuts inflicted on them by the attackers.
It was learned that while the kidnappers were asking the relatives of the victims in their custody to urgently make the N150 million ransom payment to them, they also warned them not to report their discussions with them (bandits) to any law enforcement agency or risk being slaughtered.
“We are afraid for the lives of our family members,” Yisa said yesterday amid sobs, wondering where they would get N150 million to pay the kidnappers and free their loved ones.
“This thing happened in the midnight of Saturday, breaking into Sunday in my village of Kujama, a stone’s throw from Kajuru. A woman, Alice Bitrus, was accompanied by her son, David, who was about ten years old.
“But the one that breaks everyone’s heart is the nursing mother whose three-year-old baby was thrown away as they snatched the mother and disappeared into the bush.
“As the husband tried to stop them from breaking into the house, they used a machete to slice his hands into pieces. It is doubtful if the man would recover from the wounds and live.
“The trouble we have is that the kidnappers who are holding on to the three persons, two mothers and a boy, are warning the family not to disclose anything to the security agencies or risk having them killed brutally,” Yisa lamented yesterday.
When contacted on phone, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Kaduna police command, Mr Mansur Hassan, said he would investigate and revert.
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
(Vanguard, but headline rejigged)
News
UNIABUJA law student emerges champion at West Africa 9th Inter-Universities Speech Contest, in Freetown
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
University of Abuja law student, Amra Onize Salihu, has emerged champion at the 9th Inter-Universities Speech Contest organised by the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), held on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Amra, a 500-level student in the Faculty of Law, represented Nigeria after winning the national selection conducted by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
She defeated contestants from The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana to claim the regional title, receiving the Winner’s Plaque, a Certificate of Honour, and a cash prize of US$1,000.
Fellow 500-level law student Abah Goodness Ojonoma attended as an observer.
The Director of the Law Clinic, Dr Nasiru Mukhtar coached the team, along with Mr J R Gogol of the NFIU, who provided
technical coaching.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, said he was proud of the students performance.
“Our students from the Faculty of Law have once again made the University proud. I congratulate them on this great achievement. I also commend the Faculty of Law and the Law Clinic for their efforts in the training and mentorship of the students. We will continue to work even harder to enhance the University’s global visibility through academic excellence and outstanding achievements such as this.”
Fear as an aircraft belonging to Enugu Air has crashed at Benin City airport in Edo State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday afternoon.
A video of the incident was shared on social media by an X user identified as @Oyindamola
“Enugu Air aircraft crash lands in Benin Airport this afternoon,” the X user wrote.
Recall that the Enugu Air is owned and operated by the Enugu State government.
There’s was no official statement on the matter by the aviation authorities at the time of filing in this report.
Details shortly…..
…allege constitutional breaches in voting process as 311 lawmakers back landmark amendment
…reaffirm their support for state policing in principle
By Gloria Ikibah
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives on Thursday staged a dramatic walkout during plenary in protest against the passage of President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Bill on the establishment of State Police, accusing the House leadership of violating constitutional provisions and the chamber’s Standing Orders.
Despite the protest, the House approved the Constitution Alteration Bill after 311 lawmakers voted in its favour, marking a major milestone in the ongoing effort to decentralise policing and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Executive Bill, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Tinubu last week, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a constitutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services. The proposal followed months of debate over the need for a multi-layered policing system to tackle rising insecurity across the country. It also replaced an earlier version of the bill previously passed by the House after lawmakers rescinded their earlier resolution to accommodate the President’s proposal.
Speaking to journalists shortly after leading members of the caucus out of the chamber, Minority Leader, Rep. Fredrick Agbedi, said their action was not a rejection of state police but a protest against what they described as the disregard for due legislative process.
He argued that the Speaker, while presiding as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, ignored the constitutional requirements governing amendments to the Constitution.
He said: “The Constitution is the grand norm. It is the rule book from which even our Standing Orders derive their powers. For the Speaker, acting as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, to disregard the clear provisions of Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is a great affront to the workings of the House of Representatives.”
Agbedi maintained that attendance in the House is determined through members’ registers signed on each legislative day and not by names read during proceedings.
The Minority Caucus also insisted that every clause of a constitutional amendment bill must be considered individually and supported by a two-thirds majority, as required by both the Constitution and the House Standing Orders.
Quoting Order 13 Rule 15(a) of the House Rules, the lawmakers stated:
“In the clause-by-clause consideration in the Committee of the Whole, a clause shall be deemed passed only if supported by a positive vote of two-thirds majority of members of the House.”
The caucus faulted the decision to pass the bill through a voice vote after only the long title was read, without detailed consideration of each clause.
Reaffirming their support for state policing in principle, the lawmakers stressed that procedure should never be sacrificed.
“We are not against the creation of state police. Whatever will help address insecurity in Nigeria, we are prepared to support. But every action taken by Parliament must follow due process”, he added.
According to the minority leader, they had earlier held discussions with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on aspects of the bill that required amendments, and believed there was an understanding that those concerns would be addressed.
The lawmaker warned that failure to comply with constitutional procedures could undermine the credibility of the National Assembly and Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“Mr. Speaker even identified areas where we could intervene, but when he sat as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, he simply read the long title and put the question through a voice vote. That is absurd.
“When the rules and regulations are not complied with, it affects the credibility of the institution as well as the credibility of Nigeria and our democracy”, Agbedi stated.
The caucus further alleged that the Speaker denied them the opportunity to raise constitutional points of order before the vote was taken.
“As Minority Leader, I raised a point of order, but before hearing me, the Chairman ruled me out of order. Which order was he ruling me out of? He ought to have heard my point of order first before deciding whether it complied with our rules or the Constitution”, he said.
The caucus also questioned how the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority could have been met after opposition lawmakers had left the chamber.
“If we walked out of the House, where are our votes? Can you count our votes? Can anybody decide a constitutional amendment with a voice vote? It is not possible”, he asked.
Describing the development as a dangerous precedent, the Minority Caucus accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of weakening democratic institutions.
“We stand on the side of Nigerians. We stand on the side of the rule of law. We stand on the side of what will make Nigeria a great nation and not what will diminish the integrity, progress and development of this country”, the minority leader noted.
The lawmakers urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, insisting that while they support the establishment of state police, any constitutional amendment must strictly comply with the provisions of the Constitution and the House Standing Orders.
Meanwhile, the House proceeded with the consideration and adoption of the report of its Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
At the conclusion of the exercise, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced that 311 members voted in support of the bill, comprising 276 lawmakers physically present in the chamber and 35 who participated virtually.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services and for Related Matters (HB. 2797),” now moves to the next stage of the constitutional amendment process.
In forwarding the legislation to the House, President Tinubu said the proposal builds on previous work by lawmakers while introducing additional safeguards to ensure the effective implementation of a dual policing system.
“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganize Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this Bill.
“While I look forward to expeditious consideration of this submission by the House of Representatives, please accept, Rt. Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my consideration and best regards”, he said.
Following receipt of the Executive Bill, the House rescinded its earlier resolution of 11 June 2026 on the establishment of State Police Services and dissolved the 12-member Conference Committee constituted on 9 July 2026, paving the way for consideration of the President’s revised proposal.
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UNIABUJA law student emerges champion at West Africa 9th Inter-Universities Speech Contest, in Freetown
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