The Nigerian police deny reports of church attacks in Kaduna state over the weekend. Residents and a state lawmaker say 177 people were abducted on Sunday, with 168 still missing. Kaduna State Police Commissioner Muhammad Rabiu says there was no evidence of an attack and calls the reports "rumors." A local Christian group and advocacy organization have lists of hostages but were blocked from visiting the sites. Attacks on churches are common in Nigeria, which faces ongoing security challenges from various armed groups. The U.S. has criticized Nigeria for not protecting Christians, leading to diplomatic tensions.
