Julia Christine Botin

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NIgerchristians

Reuters Wires

<div><strong>Rescued victim Aliyu Makama:</strong></div><div><em>&quot;You gave us hope. In fact you are the father to the fatherless. You gave us hope we never expected. We were thinking we were going to die there but you gave us life.&quot;</em></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani: </strong></div><div><em>&quot;Our focus is to make sure that everyone returns safely. And today I’m happy, the people of Kurmin Wali are seated here in high spirits because they believe in our government, they know they have a government that will go to any length to ensure that they return home safely.&quot;</em></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Security services have now rescued all 166 worshippers who were kidnapped by gunmen during attacks on two churches in northern Nigeria last month, a Christian group said on Thursday (February 5).</p><p>  The Christian Association of Nigeria credited the power of prayer and the military for the success of the operations in Kaduna state, but did not go into details on how the churchgoers were freed or when.</p><p>The military, the police and the local government in Kaduna did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p><p>  CAN, which represents congregations across Nigeria, said gunmen stormed the churches on January 18, seized 177 worshippers and dragged them into nearby forests. Eleven escaped, leaving 166 missing, it said.</p><p>It was the latest in a series of reported attacks and abductions in the north that have drawn the attention of U.S.   President Donald Trump, who has accused Nigeria&#x27;s government of failing to protect Christians - a charge Abuja denies.</p><p>  U.S. forces struck what they described as terrorist targets in northwest Nigeria on December 25.</p><p>There have been conflicting accounts of the churchgoers&#x27; fate. Police initially said no kidnapping took place, then said on Monday 80 of those listed as abducted had fled to nearby villages during the raid and since returned to their homes.</p><p>  The police and CAN often offer different figures and accounts on church kidnappings.</p><p>On Thursday, the Rev. John Hayab, head of CAN&#x27;s northern chapter, said he could confirm that all the churchgoers had now been freed. </p><p>The Nigerian authorities say they are cooperating with Washington to improve security and have denied there is systematic persecution of Christians.</p><p>(Production: Abraham Achirga)</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P5aH94VwjgY?&amp;t=70s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>Security services have now rescued all 166 worshippers who were kidnapped by gunmen during attacks on two churches in northern Nigeria last month, a Christian group said on Thursday (February 5).</p>

Security services have now rescued all 166 worshippers who were kidnapped by gunmen during attacks on two churches in northern Nigeria last month, a Christian group said on Thursday (February 5).

All 166 kidnapped churchgoers now rescued in northern Nigeria, Christian group says

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All 166 kidnapped churchgoers now rescued in northern Nigeria, Christian group says

Reuters

Published Feb 06, 2026 11:22 AM PHT

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