OVER 160 ECWA MEMBERS HELD HOSTAGE IN KADUNA, KOGI AMID RISING INSECURITY – CHURCH LEADERS WARN
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No fewer than 160 members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) are currently in captivity across Kaduna and Kogi states, with their families facing crippling ransom demands, the Church has disclosed.
The revelation follows the recent abduction of worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, highlighting Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
In a statement, ECWA President Rev. Job Bagat said about 100 members from the Kwassam District Church Council, 30 from the Saminaka District Church Council in Kaduna, and another 30 from the Kabba District Church Council in Kogi were already in captivity before the Kajuru incident.
Rev. Bagat described the kidnappings as “deeply distressing” and reflective of the growing insecurity confronting communities nationwide. The Church condemned persistent and targeted attacks against Christian communities, clergy, and ordinary citizens, noting that such acts violate constitutional rights to life, worship, and security.
According to the statement, ECWA pastors, church workers, and members across several states have experienced killings, abductions, displacement, and destruction of livelihoods, leaving many communities traumatised and abandoned.
The Church specifically condemned the Sunday, January 18, 2026, abduction in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru, calling it “sacrilegious and barbaric.” The armed invasion of churches during worship, confirmed by the Nigeria Police Force, has intensified fear and national anguish.
Rev. Bagat noted that the Kajuru attack is part of a broader pattern threatening multiple ECWA District Church Councils, including Katari and Gidan Waya in Kaduna, Katsina South in Katsina, Patigi, Omu-Aran and Ora-Ago in Kwara, Kabba in Kogi, Gwol and Mangu in Plateau, and Shiroro in Niger State.
While acknowledging federal efforts and the eventual deployment of security personnel to Kajuru, ECWA raised concerns over delayed responses, warning that such lapses embolden criminal networks.
The Church urged government authorities to strengthen intelligence, ensure swift responses, prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors, and protect places of worship. ECWA also called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and citizens to promote unity, vigilance, and peaceful coexistence, reaffirming its commitment to prayer, advocacy, and practical support for affected communities.
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