“In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by its President, Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Bagat, ECWA expressed deep alarm over what it called the worsening security crisis in Nigeria, particularly the repeated targeting of Christian communities and clergy.”
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By James Swam
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) worldwide has strongly condemned the abduction of worshippers during a Sunday church service in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the attack as a violation of the right to life and freedom of worship.
In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by its President, Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Bagat, ECWA expressed deep alarm over what it called the worsening security crisis in Nigeria, particularly the repeated targeting of Christian communities and clergy.
According to the church, armed men invaded churches in Kurmin Wali on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and abducted several worshippers during worship. The incident, which was confirmed by the Nigeria Police Force, has further heightened fear among rural Christian communities already grappling with kidnappings, killings, and displacement.
Rev. Dr. Bagat described the attack as part of a growing pattern of violence against ECWA members across the country. He revealed that before the Kurmin Wali incident, about “100 members from the Kwassam District Church Council, 30 from the Saminaka District Church Council in Kaduna, and 30 from Kabba District Church Council in Kogi State” were already in captivity, with kidnappers demanding heavy ransoms from their families.
The ECWA President also listed several church districts currently under severe threat, including “Katari and Gidan Waya in Kaduna State; Katsina South in Katsina State; Patigi, Omu-Aran and Ora-Ago in Kogi State; Igbaja in Kwara State; Gwol and Mangu in Plateau State; and Shiroro in Niger State.”
While acknowledging the federal government’s eventual deployment of security personnel to Kajuru after the Kurmin Wali attack, ECWA criticized delays in response, warning that slow action emboldens criminal groups. The church called for proactive, intelligence-driven, and sustained security operations, especially in vulnerable rural areas.
ECWA urged all levels of government to strengthen intelligence gathering, ensure rapid response to threats, prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors, and provide adequate protection for churches and other soft targets.
Beyond government action, the church appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to promote unity and vigilance, encouraging residents to cooperate with security agencies to curb criminal activities.
Rev. Dr. Bagat reaffirmed ECWA’s solidarity with all victims of insecurity, both within and outside the Christian community, and assured affected families of the church’s prayers and pastoral support.
Despite the trauma of the Kurmin Wali attack and similar incidents nationwide, ECWA encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, emphasising its continued commitment to prayer, peacebuilding, advocacy, and humanitarian support.
The church concluded by calling for national unity in the pursuit of peace and security, praying for comfort for the afflicted and lasting stability across the country.
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