A human rights organisation, Christian Solidarity Worldwide–Nigeria (CSW-N), has alleged that more than 170 worshippers were abducted during coordinated attacks on churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, claims that security agencies have denied.

According to CSW-N, the attacks occurred on Sunday when heavily armed assailants targeted three churches during worship services, forcibly taking congregants into the bush. The organisation said elderly women and young children were later released, while at least 167 remained in captivity as the group compiled names of the abducted.

However, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Rabiu, and the Kajuru Local Government Chairman, Dauda Madaki, dismissed the reports, describing them as falsehoods propagated by what they termed “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to destabilise the area.

At a press briefing on Monday, both officials challenged claimants to provide names and details of the alleged victims. Madaki stated that he personally led security operatives to Kurmin Wali but found no evidence of violence, and that local traditional rulers and youth leaders corroborated the absence of an attack.

CSW-N, however, insisted the abductions did occur and accused security forces of obstructing independent verification. In a statement on Tuesday, the group’s Research and Press Officer, Reuben Buhari, said its fact-finding team was prevented by soldiers from entering Kurmin Wali, despite presenting valid identification.

The team reportedly reached Makyali village and proceeded along an unmarked route toward Kurmin Wali but encountered a military convoy, including the local government chairman, blocking access. “They later refused to allow the CSW-N team entry, despite repeated pleas and the presentation of full identification,” the statement said.

CSW-N added that the military officer who halted the team cited a standing order preventing entry, forcing the human rights group to return to the main road leading to Kaduna.

The organisation said community sources told them the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, dividing into three groups to simultaneously strike the churches. Worshippers were reportedly forced into the bush, with some escaping, but most were held captive.

CSW-N described the alleged mass abduction as deeply troubling and condemned the failure of both state and federal authorities to protect rural communities from repeated attacks.

The group urged immediate government action to secure the release of those abducted and called for unfettered access for independent verification teams to assess the situation on the ground.

The incident, if confirmed, highlights ongoing security challenges in Kaduna State, particularly in rural communities where banditry and militant activity have escalated in recent years.

Human rights advocates emphasise that obstruction of independent observers can undermine public trust in official accounts and prevent timely humanitarian and law enforcement responses.

Local sources, speaking to CSW-N anonymously, said attackers targeted churchgoers during service, taking advantage of minimal security presence, and that survivors fled into surrounding forests to escape.

CSW-N also called on both Kaduna State and the Federal Government to implement robust measures to prevent further attacks, protect vulnerable communities, and hold perpetrators accountable.

The rights group warned that repeated attacks on places of worship erode community confidence and exacerbate social tensions in the state.

While authorities continue to investigate, the conflicting narratives between official statements and human rights reports underscore the urgent need for transparency and timely information.

Security analysts have noted that gaps in rural surveillance, inadequate intelligence sharing, and slow response times create opportunities for armed groups to carry out coordinated attacks.

CSW-N vowed to continue monitoring the situation and to engage relevant national and international bodies to ensure the welfare and safe return of those allegedly abducted.

The Kaduna State Police Command has yet to release a formal response addressing the allegations of blocked access to Kurmin Wali by human rights observers.

Community members in Kajuru have reportedly expressed fear and uncertainty, with some calling for immediate deployment of security forces to prevent further incidents.

The incident, whether verified fully or partially, underscores the fragile security environment in parts of northern Nigeria and the pressing need for effective rural protection strategies.

CSW-N concluded by urging authorities to prioritise human life and ensure that such alleged attacks are thoroughly investigated, victims are rescued promptly, and communities are safeguarded against future assaults.