The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association has raised the alarm over the abduction of 177 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, branding the incident as shocking and unacceptable and warning that it signals a deepening security crisis in the region.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by its Chairman, Apostle Dr Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, the association said the attack was unprecedented in Southern Kaduna, as worshippers from three different Christian denominations were abducted simultaneously while attending church services.
Kure noted that the Kajuru abduction had further strained the already precarious security situation in Southern Kaduna, adding that several cases of abductions in Kauru, Kachia and other communities remained unresolved.
He said the persistent wave of kidnappings had plunged many families into anguish and uncertainty, while spreading fear across affected communities.
“The pain and anxiety being endured by families whose loved ones are still in captivity cannot be overstated,” Kure said, stressing that the repeated attacks posed a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.
The association urged the Kaduna State Government, security agencies and other relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive steps to secure the unconditional release of the abducted worshippers and to halt the cycle of kidnappings in Southern Kaduna.
Alongside its call for action, the group announced a two-day fasting and prayer programme as a spiritual response to the crisis, aimed at seeking the safe return of all abducted persons across the region.
According to the statement, the fasting, anchored on Psalm 57:2–3, will begin on Friday and conclude with special prayer sessions in churches across Southern Kaduna on Sunday.
“This call to fasting and prayer is a united cry to God for mercy, protection and the safe return of our brothers and sisters from captivity,” Kure said.
He added that the initiative demonstrated a rare unity among Christians across denominations at a critical moment for Southern Kaduna.
The association also called on Christians within and outside the region to join the exercise and appealed to Nigerians to show solidarity with communities affected by kidnappings, particularly in Kajuru, Kauru and Kachia local government areas.
“We will not be silent in the face of evil, neither will we lose hope. We trust God for divine intervention, while continuing to demand accountability and concrete action from those entrusted with the security of lives and property,” the statement said.
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