Kurmin Wali Church Attacks Spark Fresh Calls for Community-Based Forest Guards

Kurmin Wali Church Attacks Spark Fresh Calls for Community-Based Forest Guards

By: Michael Mike

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) have condemned the recent attack on Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the security gaps in forest-bordering communities across northern Nigeria.

According to reports, armed kidnappers stormed the community, invaded three churches, abducted 169 worshippers, and escaped through nearby forests without encountering resistance. The attack has triggered renewed concern over the vulnerability of rural settlements located close to vast, ungoverned forest areas.

In a statement issued on Thursday, NCYP said the incident underscored the urgent need for a functional and community-driven Forest Guard system. The group argued that if local residents had been trained and deployed as part of a forest security structure, the attack could have been prevented or at least disrupted through early warning 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 groups often exploit the absence of local resistance to carry out kidnappings and attacks.

While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to address insecurity, the group in the statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak maintained that recent events show the need to strengthen existing strategies, referencing the federal government’s approval of a Forest Guard initiative but stressed that its success depends on the inclusion of indigenous community members who understand the terrain and live permanently in affected areas.

NCYP further stated that it is unrealistic to expect the military and police to maintain a constant presence in every forest and rural settlement. Instead, it advocated a complementary approach where trained community members support conventional security forces by monitoring forest movements and providing timely intelligence.

The group also linked the urgency of security reforms to the broader political landscape, noting that expectations are high ahead of the 2027 general elections. It urged the federal government to ensure that the Forest Guard initiative is fully implemented in a way 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.

Security agencies have yet to release an official update on the rescue of the abducted victims or arrests connected to the attack.
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