Eighty church worshippers out of the hundreds kidnapped by gunmen in Southern Kaduna State have returned home weeks after their abduction, police have confirmed.
They were among 177 people seized last month from three churches in the remote village of Kurmin Wali.
Police say the 80 escaped on the same day they were taken but hid in neighbouring villages for a fortnight “due to fear of being captured again”, state police spokesman Mansur Hassan told the BBC.
The authorities say efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining 86 people still being held.
The attack was part of a wave of kidnappings for ransom affecting many parts of Nigeria, but no group has said it was behind the abductions.
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The raid was initially denied by police, who only confirmed the kidnappings on January 21, after residents had reported to the BBC that 177 worshippers were abducted, with 11 escaping shortly afterwards.
The official response drew criticism from Amnesty International, which accused Nigerian authorities of “desperate denial” over the incident.
The rights group urged officials to “take immediate and concrete measures to prevent rampant abductions that are gradually becoming the norm in Nigeria.”
