The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has organised a special prayer session for the safe release of 177 worshippers abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali community.
The prayer meeting, held on Sunday at Tawaliu Baptist Church in Maraban Kajuru, attracted Christian leaders from across Kaduna State and other parts of northern Nigeria, as families of the abducted worshippers continue to await their return.
The victims, who are members of the Evangelical Church Winning All and the Cherubim and Seraphim churches, were abducted during Sunday services when armed men invaded the community and forced congregants into nearby forests. While some worshippers reportedly escaped, many remain in captivity.
Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph Hayab, urged churches to strengthen security around places of worship in response to rising attacks. He stressed the need to complement prayers with vigilance, including basic internal security and monitoring measures during church services.
Hayab warned that unrestricted access to worship centres without adequate awareness exposes congregations to serious risks, describing the security situation in Kajuru as alarming and calling for urgent collective action to address recurring attacks on communities and churches.
Also speaking, the Chairman of CAN in Kajuru LGA, Rev. Enoch Kaura, said the prayer session was intended to seek divine intervention for the safe return of the abducted worshippers and for wisdom for government and security agencies in tackling insecurity. He condemned the abductions and criticised what he described as the initial denial of the incident by authorities.
Kaura noted that insecurity in Kajuru dates back to the 1980s but worsened following the 2017–2018 Kasuwan Magani crisis. He recalled previous attacks on churches in the area, including killings and abductions, adding that since 2019, no fewer than 11 pastors and their wives have been killed, while several others were abducted.
While acknowledging some improvements under the administration of Governor Uba Sani, Kaura said persistent insecurity continues to disrupt daily life, particularly farming activities. He called on the government and security agencies to intensify operations to prevent further attacks and secure the release of the abducted worshippers.
The prayer session was attended by the Kaduna State Chairman of CAN, Rev. Caleb Ma’aji, as well as bishops and clergy from various Christian denominations.
