Mass kidnapping at Kaduna churches adds to pressure on Nigeria

Afiniki Moses thought her ordeal was over when armed abductors released her on January 15 after her family paid a ransom in a village in northern Kaduna state in Nigeria. She was wrong.

The armed gang returned to Kurmin Wali village on Sunday and seized more than 170 people during a church service from two churches, including her husband and two children.

The children later escaped, she said, but her husband is among 163 people that the Christian Association of Nigeria says are still missing.

“They kidnapped a large number of people in the community and my husband happened to be among them. As you can see me now, I am not feeling fine,” she said.

NIGERIA IN TRUMP’S CROSSHAIRS OVER CHRISTIANS

The attack on the churches is the latest in a series of abductions in the West African country, adding to pressure on the government.

It is under scrutiny from United States (US) President Donald Trump, who said the attacks are a persecution of Christians before launching an airstrike on Christmas Day.

The Nigerian government has denied that there is any systematic persecution of Christians.

It says it is working hard to tackle Islamists and other violent groups that have attacked both Muslim and Christian civilians, often for ransom.

It has also hired a Washington-based consulting firm to help communicate its effort to protect Christians.

Kidnappings have spread over the years, mostly in remote parts of northern Nigeria and are carried out by armed gangs who ride into villages on motorcycles and seize villagers.

Inside one of the churches targeted in Kurmin Wali, named the Evangelical Church Winning All, a Reuters reporter saw signs of disturbance, with some plastic chairs on the floor.

A Bible lay on one chair, and musical instruments that appeared to have been used in a lively church service.

Idris Madami said he was outside Albarika Cherubin and Seraphin Movement Church nearby when the gunmen arrived with guns.

He managed to escape but said about 20 of his family members who were attending the service were taken away and he has not heard from them.