CAN Holds Solemn Prayers For 177 Abducted Worshippers, Call For Enhanced Security At Places Of Worship
By Oludare Joshua
Kajuru, Kaduna State – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru Local Government Area held a special prayer session on Sunday, pleading for the safe release of 177 worshippers abducted one week ago from churches in the Kurmin Wali community.
The gathering, which took place at Tawaliu Baptist Church in Maraban Kajuru, drew Christian leaders from across Kaduna State and northern Nigeria. It was held as families of the kidnapped congregants continued to await news of their loved ones, who were seized during Sunday services by armed men.
The victims, belonging to the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim churches, were forced into nearby forests during the invasion. While some managed to escape, many remain in captivity.
Addressing the assembly, Rev. Joseph Hayab, Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, urged churches to bolster security measures around worship centers amid rising attacks on religious gatherings.
Hayab emphasized that prayer must be paired with practical vigilance, recommending that churches implement basic internal security and monitoring systems to observe activities within and around their premises during services.
“Unrestricted access to worship centres without situational awareness exposes congregations to danger and makes them vulnerable to attacks,” he stated.
He described Kajuru’s security situation as deeply troubling, noting that repeated assaults on communities and churches have become unacceptable and demand urgent collective action.
“We have been praying and watching instead of watching and praying. The church must wake up,” Hayab declared.
Rev. Enoch Kaura, Chairman of CAN in Kajuru Local Government Area, explained that the prayer session was organized to seek divine intervention for the abducted worshippers and to pray for wisdom for government and security agencies in tackling insecurity.
Kaura condemned the abduction and criticized what he called the initial denial of the incident by authorities, saying it discredited the accounts of victims, families, clergy, and eyewitnesses.
He traced the roots of insecurity in Kajuru to the 1980s, highlighting an escalation during the 2017–2018 Kasuwan Magani crisis, which led to the abduction and killing of the area’s paramount ruler.
The Kurmin Wali kidnapping, Kaura noted, is not an isolated event. He recalled previous attacks, including the abduction of a pastor and members from Buda Church and the killing of a church member in Ugakala Maro last year.
Since 2019, he said, at least 11 pastors and their wives have been killed, with many others abducted—a situation that has forced numerous residents to flee their homes.
While acknowledging that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has brought relative peace to parts of Kajuru, Kaura stressed that persistent insecurity continues to disrupt normal life, preventing many from harvesting farm produce and returning fully to their communities.
He appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify operations in Kajuru and other vulnerable areas to prevent further attacks and secure the release of all abducted worshippers.
The prayer session was attended by Rev. Caleb Ma’aji, Kaduna State CAN Chairman, alongside bishops and clergy from various Christian denominations.
