Outrage as Over 170 Christians Are Kidnapped; Netizens Question President Tinubu’s Silence

Netizens have sharply criticized Bola Tinubu’s silence following the abduction of over 170 Christians from three churches in Kaduna State by armed terrorists, with widespread outrage on social media highlighting what many describe as governmental indifference to escalating insecurity and targeted attacks on Christian communities.

The mass kidnapping occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in the remote village of Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area, during morning worship services.

Heavily armed terrorists, stormed the congregations at two branches of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church and one from the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA).

Witnesses described how the attackers surrounded the village, beat residents, and forced scores of worshippers—including men, women, children, and pregnant individuals—into the bush at gunpoint.

Initial reports from local residents and Christian leaders placed the number abducted at around 177, though police and other officials later confirmed figures hovering between 163 and 166 still in captivity after some escapes and releases.

Survivors recounted harrowing details: older women and young children were freed shortly after, while 9 to 11 others managed to flee during the march toward terrorists strongholds such as Rijana forest.

In a chilling demand, the kidnappers reportedly sought 17 motorcycles as ransom for the victims’ release.

The incident drew immediate scrutiny due to conflicting official responses.

Nigeria’s police initially denied the abductions occurred, dismissing early reports as misinformation or fabrications, only to reverse course days later after pressure from residents, faith groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and international outlets.

Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin acknowledged the event following verification by operational units and intelligence, while Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the initial denials as emblematic of broader failures to address endemic impunity in killings and kidnappings.

Public anger has centered on the absence of any public statement or visible action from Bola Tinubu amid the crisis.

Social media users across platforms have blasted the lack of response, accusing authorities of downplaying the severity to avoid acknowledging systematic failures in security.

Posts described the silence as deafening, with some labeling it evidence that the administration prioritizes other matters over citizens’ safety.

Criticism extended to perceived cover-ups, with calls for urgent rescue operations and accountability.

Voices on X urged greater awareness, sharing survivor accounts and decrying distractions from other trending topics while families of the abducted plead for intervention.

The attack fits a persistent pattern of banditry in Nigeria’s north and northwest, where armed gangs—often operating from forest bases—carry out mass abductions for ransom, targeting vulnerable rural communities including religious gatherings.

Church leaders and human rights groups have framed the Kaduna incident as part of ongoing threats to Christian worshippers, though the government has consistently rejected claims of systematic religious persecution, attributing the violence to criminality rather than ideology.

As of January 23, 2026, security forces have pledged intensified operations in the affected areas, with assurances from officials that efforts to locate and free the hostages are underway.

Yet families in Kurmin Wali continue to grieve and fear for their loved ones’ fate, while online outrage shows little sign of subsiding without concrete progress or acknowledgment from the highest levels of leadership.