All Christians kidnapped by bandits now free

Weeks after “heavily armed bandits” assaulted two church services, the entire worshippers kidnapped at the moment are free.

The exact variety of those taken is unclear, with figures starting from 163 to 177. During such attacks some villagers go into hiding but are sometimes initially believed to have been captured. In other cases an individual could have been captured but is in a position to make a swift escape and return to their family.

According to the BBC, 11 of those taken within the attack on Kurmin Wali on 18 January were in a position to escape shortly after capture, while 80 managed to flee and hid in one other village.

The remaining captives returned to their homes around per week ago.

The authorities haven’t disclosed the circumstances of the discharge, although ransom demands by such groups will not be unusual.

Speaking to the BBC, Rev John Hayab, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Northern Nigeria, said that locals were “celebrating” the return of their families, friends and neighbours, who seem like in generally good condition.

He added that individuals were “grateful to the federal government and security agencies for whatever they did and the way they went about it”.

The news of the discharge was also welcomed by Mervyn Thomas, founder and president of non secular liberty group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, who said he was “wishing them a swift and full recovery from their ordeal”. 

Nigeria’s security services have been criticised for the frequent failure to forestall attacks – lots of them on Christians – by Islamist militants and bandit groups.

In response, Nigerian president Bola Tinubu last yr declared a state of emergency and announced the doubling of the police force. In addition, the Nigerian government permitted airstrikes by the US on Islamist camps in northern Nigeria.

The strikes were described by US President Donald Trump as an motion to guard Nigeria’s Christians from endemic deadly violence.