37 Kaduna Worshippers Still Held by Bandits After 101 Days: This National Disgrace Must End Immediately

PRESS STATEMENT

37 Kaduna Worshippers Still Held by Bandits After 101 Days: This National Disgrace Must End Immediately

The Take It Back (TIB) Movement condemns the continued captivity of the 37 worshippers abducted during the Easter Day attack on Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State. As these innocent Nigerians mark 101 harrowing days in the custody of bandits, the silence, inaction and apparent indifference of both the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government amount to a shameful abdication of their constitutional responsibility.

On April 5, 2026, heavily armed bandits invaded Ariko village, killing five people, injuring several others and abducting 37 worshippers, including women, children, elderly blind persons and sick residents who could barely stand. More than three months later, these citizens remain abandoned in captivity while their families continue to live through unimaginable pain and uncertainty.

The horrifying accounts emerging from the victims’ ordeal should shake the conscience of every responsible government. They have reportedly been forced to wear the same clothes for over 100 days, sleep on bare ground, endure harsh weather without shelter, suffer hunger, disease and insect infestations, and witness unspeakable horrors. No human being deserves to endure such cruelty while those entrusted with protecting lives remain largely silent.

Equally disturbing are reports that the kidnappers continue to demand an outrageous ransom of ₦1 billion and 35 motorcycles while desperate families, who cannot possibly meet such demands, are left to fend for themselves. The allegation by community leaders that there has been no serious or coordinated rescue effort reflects the growing frustration of communities that have repeatedly been abandoned to the mercy of criminal gangs.

Even more alarming are claims that residents who speak publicly about the plight of the captives are intimidated and branded as enemies rather than supported. This culture of silence, fear and intimidation only emboldens criminals while denying victims and their families the solidarity they deserve.
The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property. Any government that fails to rescue its citizens from criminal captivity for over 100 days cannot claim to be fulfilling its most basic constitutional obligation. Nigerians are tired of official statements without meaningful action while innocent citizens continue to perish or languish in the hands of kidnappers.

The Take It Back Movement demands the immediate deployment of all necessary security and intelligence resources to secure the unconditional rescue of the abducted worshippers. We also call for regular public updates on rescue efforts, adequate support for the affected families, and a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s failing security architecture, which has left countless communities vulnerable to violent criminal groups.

We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Ariko and the wider Kuturmi communities. Their pain is the pain of every Nigerian who believes that human life must never be treated as disposable.

The continued captivity of these worshippers is a national disgrace. Every additional day they spend in the hands of bandits is a reminder of the government’s failure to protect its citizens. Nigeria cannot continue to normalise this level of insecurity. The time for excuses has long passed. The time for decisive action is now.

Signed:
Juwon Sanyaolu
National Coordinator
Take It Back Movement