HURIWA FAULTS DG OVER FAILURE TO RESCUE 177 ABDUCTED CHRISTIANS IN KADUNA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed disappointment over what it described as the failure of the Federal and Kaduna State governments to rescue 177 Christian worshippers abducted by terrorists more than three weeks ago in Kaduna State.

In a statement issued on Sunday, HURIWA said the continued captivity of the worshippers reflects a failure of the Nigerian state to discharge its constitutional responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens.

The group recalled that three churches in Kaduna State were attacked on Sunday, January 18, during morning worship, leading to the abduction of 177 worshippers, including women, children and sick persons.

HURIWA blamed the persistence of attacks in Southern Kaduna on what it described as an alleged truce between the Kaduna State Government and terrorists, warning that such arrangements may be encouraging renewed attacks in expectation of ransom payments.

The rights group referenced past allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that about N1 billion was paid to terrorists to halt attacks, an allegation which was later denied by the Kaduna State Government and also disputed by former senator Shehu Sani.Quoting a survivor of the church attack, Yunana Adauji, a secretary of the affected church network, HURIWA said the abduction occurred around 9:30 a.m. during Sunday service.

“The terrorists came in large numbers with guns, gathered worshippers together and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to escape,” Adauji was quoted as saying. “They forced children, women, men and even sick people into the bush. We do not know their condition.”

HURIWA further alleged that initial reports of the attack were denied by local authorities and the Kaduna State Police Command, noting that a BBC report quoted the Commissioner of Police as describing the incident as “mere falsehood.”

The group expressed concern that weeks after the denial, the police commissioner had not faced any administrative sanction, and called on the Police Service Commission to discipline the officer for what it described as an attempt to mislead the public.

HURIWA urged the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to urgently intensify search and rescue operations to ensure the safe release of the abducted worshippers and arrest those responsible.

“Nigerians want a country where lives are sacrosanct. These incessant attacks are despicable and reprehensible,” the group said.

In a related development, HURIWA condemned a fresh terrorist attack in Agwara town, headquarters of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

According to the group, terrorists reportedly invaded the community around 4 a.m., engaged police officers in a gun battle, burnt down the divisional police station, attacked a church, and abducted at least five persons.

Part of the church was also reportedly set ablaze.

HURIWA described the attack as shameful and questioned the preparedness of security forces, noting the expanding presence of ungoverned spaces in the country.

The group also faulted the Niger State Government for not establishing and equipping civilian vigilante groups to complement national security efforts.

The rights group condemned what it described as the systematic targeting of Christians and destruction of churches, calling on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive steps to end the attacks.