KADUNA, Nigeria — Security services have rescued all 166 worshippers abducted by gunmen during attacks on two churches in northern Nigeria last month, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said on Thursday, bringing to an end weeks of uncertainty marked by conflicting official accounts.
CAN credited the military and the power of prayer for the release of the churchgoers but did not disclose details on how or when the rescue operations were carried out.
Neither the Nigerian military, the police, nor the Kaduna State government immediately responded to requests for comment.
According to CAN, gunmen stormed two churches in Kaduna State on January 18, seizing 177 worshippers and dragging them into nearby forests. The group said 11 people escaped shortly after the attack, leaving 166 missing.
The abductions triggered public alarm and renewed scrutiny of insecurity in northern Nigeria, where attacks by criminal gangs and armed groups have intensified in recent years.
CAN represents Christian congregations across Nigeria and has been vocal about violence targeting places of worship. However, its accounts have often differed from official police statements, particularly in high-profile kidnapping cases.
On Thursday, the Rev. John Hayab, head of CAN’s northern chapter, said he could now confirm that all those abducted had been freed.
“What we know is that they have been rescued, after all the drama and disagreements,” Hayab said, referring to the police’s initial denial that any kidnapping had occurred.
He insisted no ransom was paid.
“Nobody asked us to gather any money, and nobody collected a penny from us,” he said. “Of course, the bandits still have their demands, but we did not have any amount to give them.”
CAN’s Kaduna chairman, the Rev. Caleb Ma’aji, also confirmed the release, saying he had returned from the Kaduna Government House, where Governor Uba Sani was preparing to receive the freed worshippers.
“The stage is set for them to be brought,” Ma’aji said. “His Excellency will meet with them. This is a result of the prayers we have offered.”
The rescue comes after conflicting official narratives. Police initially said no kidnapping had taken place. They later stated that 80 people listed as abducted had actually fled during the attack, sought refuge in nearby villages, and subsequently returned home.
Such discrepancies are not uncommon. Police and church groups have frequently issued different figures and timelines in cases involving attacks on churches in northern Nigeria, complicating efforts to establish clear facts.
The incident is the latest in a series of kidnappings and violent raids in the region that have drawn international attention, including from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has accused Nigeria’s government of failing to protect Christians — an allegation Abuja has repeatedly denied.
In December, U.S. forces carried out air strikes on what they described as terrorist targets in northwest Nigeria, underscoring Washington’s growing security involvement in the region.
Nigerian authorities maintain that insecurity affects all communities, regardless of religion, and reject claims of systematic persecution of Christians. They say the government is working with international partners, including the United States, to improve security and intelligence capabilities.
For the freed worshippers, the focus now shifts to recovery and reintegration, even as broader questions remain over accountability, transparency, and the state’s ability to protect civilians in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
