The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) have condemned the recent attack on Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing it as a grim reminder of persistent security lapses in forest-bordering communities across northern Nigeria.
According to reports, armed kidnappers invaded the community, attacked three churches, and abducted 169 worshippers before fleeing through surrounding forests without encountering resistance. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of rural settlements located near vast, poorly governed forest areas.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NCYP said the attack underscored the urgent need for a functional, community-driven Forest Guard system. The group argued that the presence of trained local residents as part of a forest security structure could have helped prevent the attack or at least disrupted it through early detection and coordination with security agencies.
“The ease with which the attackers operated raises serious questions about the current security framework in forest communities,” the group said, noting that criminal elements routinely exploit the absence of local resistance to carry out kidnappings and violent assaults.
While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to tackle insecurity, NCYP maintained that recent developments show the need to strengthen existing strategies. In the statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak, the group referenced the Federal Government’s approval of a Forest Guard initiative, stressing that its effectiveness depends largely on the inclusion of indigenous community members who understand the terrain and reside permanently in affected areas.
NCYP further noted that it is unrealistic to expect the military and police to maintain constant presence across every forest and rural settlement. It advocated a complementary security approach in which trained community members support conventional forces by monitoring forest movements and providing timely intelligence.
The group also linked the urgency of security reforms to the broader political climate, noting rising public expectations ahead of the 2027 general elections. It urged the Federal Government to ensure full and effective implementation of the Forest Guard initiative in a manner that empowers vulnerable communities.
The Kurmin Wali attack adds to a growing list of incidents in Kaduna State and other parts of the North-West, where criminal groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, places of worship, and travellers, often retreating into forests that remain difficult to police.
As of press time, security agencies had yet to issue an official update on the rescue of the abducted worshippers or any arrests connected to the attack.
