Abuja, 29 September 2025 – A Nigerian human rights organization has raised alarm over the plight of hundreds of Christians reportedly held captive by jihadist Fulani herdsmen in Kaduna State.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) said that at least 850 Christians remain detained in Rijana forest, an enclave described as a “jihadist village,” located along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and near military installations.
The group cited a recent investigation by TruthNigeria, which gathered testimonies from survivors who recounted months of captivity in makeshift camps. Victims reported seeing at least 11 large camps holding more than 50 people each, as well as 10 smaller camps of around 30 captives.
One survivor, 32-year-old Esther Emmanuel, who was kidnapped in June along with her infant daughter, described harsh conditions where hostages were fed only cornmeal, beaten regularly, and threatened with execution if ransoms were not paid. Another victim, Maureen Mica, said prisoners were forbidden from praying and witnessed frequent killings in larger camps.
Intersociety criticized Nigerian authorities for failing to act despite the forest’s proximity to army facilities, warning that public trust in the military has collapsed in recent years due to “romance with jihadist bandits.” The group estimated that Kaduna State alone has recorded over 1,100 cases of Christian kidnappings in the past ten months.
The rights group is calling for urgent government intervention to secure the release of those still in captivity.
Source: Intersociety statement, TruthNigeria report, via ACI Africa.
