Gunmen kidnapped about 40 persons on Sunday during a church service at Bege Baptist Church in Madala, Kaduna, along Buruku Baringi Road, in Kaduna State's Chikun Local Government Area.
Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, confirmed the occurrence.
"The worshippers heard gunshots very close to the church around 9:30 on Sunday morning," he claimed. Attackers with guns entered the church and abducted 40 worshipers.
"Somehow, along the way, 15 of the kidnapped persons returned," he said, "leaving the remaining 25 who are currently being held captive without hearing from their abductors."
He claimed that efforts were being made to contact the kidnappers in order to learn more about the remaining victims.
When contacted, DSP Mohammed Jalige, a spokesman for the State Police, pledged to get in touch with the DPO of the impacted region to arrange for quick action.