Kaduna: Communities across northern Nigeria are struggling with a new surge of kidnappings and killings that is affecting both Christians and Muslims. Families in rural villages say they now live with constant fear as armed groups raid homes, churches and schools, often without warning.

Residents in Kaduna state described how attackers stormed a church service, seized 62 people and forced them to walk into the forest. The captives were held for days and pressured to abandon their faith. Some who were released said they were threatened and beaten while waiting for their families to gather ransom money.

Local leaders say Christian communities have suffered heavy losses this year, but many also admit that Muslims face the same threat. Security experts in the region explain that most of the violence is driven by criminal groups looking for ransom, rather than by religious motives. They warn that presenting the crisis as a fight between faiths overlooks the complexity of the situation and the number of Muslim victims.

The growing insecurity has drawn attention abroad. The United States has raised concerns about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria, and President Donald J. Trump has said that the international community must act if the killings continue. Nigerian officials reject claims that the government is failing to protect Christians, insisting that armed bandits and militant groups target people from all backgrounds.

Meanwhile, families are mourning loved ones and searching for the missing. Many villagers have left their homes, fearing they could be the next targets. Religious leaders are urging unity, saying that both Christians and Muslims must work together to resist fear and support one another.

Across Nigeria’s troubled northern states, people say the same thing: they want peace, reliable security and a chance to return to normal life without worrying about who might be taken next.