…Call for abductees’ safe return.
…Says, “Incidents first in history.”
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has expressed deep anguish and strong condemnation over the recent kidnapping of 177 persons in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In a statement issued on Thursday on behalf of the Association, the Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure-led chairman described the incident as heart-rending, alarming, and unacceptable, noting that it marked the first time in the history of the region that members of three different Christian denominations were abducted in a single day during Church Services.
The Association lamented that the Kajuru incident adds to the growing list of unresolved abductions across Southern Kaduna, particularly in Kauru, Kachia, and other vulnerable communities, where families continue to live in agony over the fate of their loved ones.
While calling on the Kaduna State Government, security agencies, and all relevant authorities to intensify efforts to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the Kajuru victims, the Christian leaders also urged “decisive action” to end the recurring cycle of kidnappings in the region.
Apostle Dr. Kure explained that as a spiritual response to the crisis, the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association has declared a two-day fasting-and-prayer programme founded on Psalm 57:2–3, for the safe return of all abducted persons across the region.
According to the statement, the two-day fasting will commence on Friday this week, and will be rounded-up with a special prayer session in all 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,” Apostle Dr Kure said.
“It is also a demonstration of rare unity, as believers across denominations stand together at a critical moment in our history.”
The Association called on all Christians in Southern Kaduna and beyond to participate wholeheartedly in the fast, while also appealing to the wider Nigerian society to stand in solidarity with affected communities, especially families of victims in Kajuru, Kauru, Kachia, and other flash-points.
“We will not be silent in the face of evil, neither will we lose hope. We trust God for divine intervention, and we continue to demand accountability and concrete action from those entrusted with the security of lives and property,” the statement concluded.