Armed groups who abducted more than 150 worshippers in Nigeria’s northwestern Kaduna State have demanded the delivery of 17 motorcycles as a condition for initiating discussions on the hostages’ release, according to local officials.
The abductions followed coordinated attacks on three churches in the Kajuru area on Sunday. A total of 177 people were taken during the raids, though 11 later escaped, residents said. The incident is among the largest reported mass kidnappings in Nigeria in recent months, amid ongoing insecurity in several parts of the country.
Community members told the Associated Press that the kidnappers have not yet requested cash payments. Instead, they are seeking motorcycles valued at about $1,000 each. Local village head Ishaku Dan’azumi said the attackers specifically asked for 17 motorcycles, without mentioning any financial ransom. Sebastine Barde, president of the Adara Development Association, said the abductors claimed they were seeking replacements for motorcycles they had lost.
Motorcycles are commonly used by armed groups operating in Nigeria’s forested regions, allowing them to move quickly through difficult terrain and avoid security patrols.
Security agencies have deployed tactical units to track down the kidnappers, who are believed to be part of criminal gangs that frequently target rural communities for mass abductions. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani visited the affected communities on Wednesday and said authorities were coordinating closely with security forces to secure the release of those held.
The attacks have renewed international attention on violence affecting religious communities in Nigeria. Some foreign figures, including former US President Donald Trump, have characterized such incidents as religious persecution, a claim the Nigerian government rejects, maintaining that the violence is driven by broader security challenges rather than a campaign against Christians.
Separately, US military strikes were reported near Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim city in northern Nigeria, on Christmas Day. The strikes were said to have targeted fighters linked to the Islamic State group, an operation described by Mr Trump as a “Christmas present.”
