Nigeria Sectarian Violence

Kaduna police, after initially dismissing reports as "rumors," have formally acknowledged simultaneous attacks on three churches in the Kajuru area in which more than 160 Christians were abducted—state lawmaker Usman Danlami Stingo put the toll at 177 abducted (11 escaped, 168 still missing)—and rights groups say military and local officials blocked fact‑finding teams while Amnesty International condemned the government’s earlier denials. Separately, the Nigerian army said it rescued 62 hostages in a Zamfara raid and killed two militants in an ambush along the Kebbi–Sokoto border, though officials say it is unclear whether any of the freed captives are among those taken from the churches.