HURIWA slams government inaction as 177 worshippers remain in captivity in Kaduna

A prominent Nigerian human rights organization has sharply criticized federal and state authorities for their inability to rescue 177 worshippers seized by armed militants over three weeks ago.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) characterized the government’s response as both disappointing and alarming, arguing that the failure to protect citizens represents a fundamental breakdown in constitutional duty.

The mass abduction occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when gunmen attacked three churches across Kaduna State. HURIWA has raised concerns about the state government’s approach to security, questioning whether alleged negotiations with terrorist groups may have emboldened further attacks, particularly against Christian communities in Southern Kaduna.

The organization referenced controversial claims by former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who previously alleged that N1 billion had been paid to militants as part of a peace arrangement—an accusation both the current state government and former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani have denied.

HURIWA also condemned a separate attack in Niger State, where militants invaded Agwara town on Saturday, burning a police station, raiding a church, and kidnapping at least five residents.

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Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, issued a strong statement: “We condemn these incessant terrorist attacks on Nigerians, and especially we denounce the systematic targeting of Christians and the destruction of their churches. We call on the Federal Government to act swiftly to put an end to these attacks that have led to the killings of thousands of Nigerians.”

The rights group emphasized that effective security mechanisms should have been in place to prevent such incidents, describing the ongoing violence as evidence of governmental failure to fulfill its primary responsibility to citizens.