Terrorists ambushed a vehicle near Kurmin Wali in Kajuru Local Government Area on Friday, kidnapping four passengers in broad daylight.
This assault followed their raid on three churches just days earlier, where they seized between 163 and 177 Christian worshippers during services.
Authorities now confirm the earlier abductions after initial denials sparked outrage.
The latest attack unfolded as the vehicle traveled through a vulnerable stretch of road.
Terrorists intercepted it, forcing the occupants out at gunpoint and marching them into nearby bushes.
Survivors reported the ordeal to local police, who have since launched a search operation.
However, community leaders express frustration over the slow response, noting that similar incidents have plagued the region without decisive action.
Earlier this week, on January 21, terrorists stormed services at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), and a Catholic church in Kurmin Wali.
They herded worshippers—including women and children—onto motorcycles and fled into the forest.
Initial reports pegged the number at 177, though some sources cite 163 or 167 victims.
Eleven managed to escape, leaving at least 166 still captive.Kaduna State Police Commissioner Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu initially dismissed the church kidnappings as unfounded rumors.
But pressure from activists and international observers forced a reversal.
In a statement, police admitted the incident and vowed to rescue the hostages.
Critics, including human rights defender Steven Kefas, blasted the denial as irresponsible, arguing it emboldens the attackers.
“Fulani terrorists have turned communities into fields where they casually walk in to kidnap people,” Kefas posted on X.
Meanwhile, the abductions highlight a surge in targeted violence against Christian communities in northern Nigeria.
Advocacy groups like Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and International Christian Concern link these to Islamist insurgents affiliated with Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa Province.
In recent weeks, similar raids have claimed lives and displaced families across Kaduna, Plateau, and Borno states.
In addition, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, urging global coordination to combat the terror groups.
“These attacks on Christians demand a unified fight,” he stated, referencing recent U.S. airstrikes on terrorist hideouts in the region.
Nigerian forces have conducted operations, including airstrikes that killed 50 terrorists en route to Borno earlier this month.
Yet, abductions and killings persist, with 183 deaths and 366 kidnappings reported in the past 27 days alone.
Local residents demand accountability. “The government plays politics with human lives,” one X user lamented, echoing widespread calls for the removal of officials who downplay the crisis.
As searches continue, families cling to hope amid fears of ransom demands or worse.
Nevertheless, experts warn that without addressing root causes like poverty and ideological extremism, such violence will escalate.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a controversial cleric, suggested ideological countermeasures alongside military efforts to stem the tide.
For now, Kaduna remains on edge, with communities bracing for the next strike.
