The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru on Sunday held special prayers for the safe return of 177 worshippers abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali community, even as armed bandits abducted six more residents from Mararaba Kajuru in the early hours of the same day.
The incident in Mararaba Kajuru occurred at about 1:00 a.m. when the bandits stormed Unguwar Barkonu, breaking into homes and forcibly taking six people to an unknown location.
A resident, Steven Kefas, said: “This incident didn’t occur in a remote village with no access road; it happened right at the heart of Kajuru, in Kufana.”
The CAN-led prayer session, held at Tawaliu Baptist Church in Maraban Kajuru, brought together Christian leaders from across Kaduna State and the wider northern region. Families of the abducted worshippers anxiously awaited their release.
The victims, members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the Cherubim and Seraphim churches, were taken during Sunday services when armed men invaded Kurmin Wali community and forced congregants into surrounding forests. While a few victims escaped, many remain in captivity.
Speaking at the gathering, the Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, urged churches to combine prayer with vigilance.
“Churches must strengthen surveillance and security around places of worship in response to the growing threat against worship centres. Unrestricted access to church premises without situational awareness exposes worshippers to danger and leaves congregations vulnerable to attacks. We have been praying and watching instead of watching and praying. The church must wake up,” he said.
Reverend Hayab described the security situation in Kajuru as deeply troubling, noting that repeated attacks on communities and churches have reached an unacceptable level and require urgent collective action.
Also speaking, Reverend Enoch Kaura, Chairman of CAN in Kajuru Local Government Area, said the prayer session sought divine intervention for the safe return of abducted worshippers and wisdom for government authorities and security agencies.
He condemned the abduction in Kurmin Wali and criticised the initial denial of the incident by the government, saying it cast doubt on victims’ accounts.
Commenting on the Mararaba Kajuru kidnapping, Rev. Kaura said: “The incident happened around 11 p.m. when the bandits stormed the area. They surrounded the community, but when neighbours heard strange noises and came out, the attackers fled with only six residents.”
Tracing the roots of insecurity in Kajuru to the 1980s, he said the situation worsened during the 2017–2018 Kasuwan Magani crisis, which culminated in the abduction and killing of the area’s paramount ruler.
He recalled previous attacks on Buda Church, including abductions and killings, and said that since 2019, no fewer than 11 pastors and their wives have been killed, forcing many communities to abandon their homes.
While acknowledging that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has recorded relative peace in parts of Kajuru, Rev. Kaura said lingering insecurity continues to prevent residents from fully returning to normal life, particularly in harvesting farm produce.
He urged intensified government and security operations to prevent further attacks and ensure the rescue of all abducted worshippers.
The prayer session was attended by the Kaduna State Chairman of CAN, Reverend Caleb Bawa Ma’aji, as well as bishops and clergy from various denominations.
