On a day set aside internationally to pray for the persecuted Church, at least two abducted worshippers of a Baptist Church in Kaduna have been shot dead.
Last weekend, as is the tradition was the International Day of the Persecuted, according to posts on many Christian platforms for what one of them is a cry for justice that stretches across the globe.
“This weekend we’re joining churches and other organisations around the world to mark the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – a special day dedicated to uplifting persecuted Christians to God,” Emma Howlett, the Head of Communications of CSW.
But in Kaduna State where hundreds of Christians have been killed in ethno-religious fighting and especially by Fulani militia and bandits, Rev Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) kaduna State chapter, confirmed that two of the 66 worshippers abducted on Saturday, October 31, 2021 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kakau Daji, Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, have been killed by their abductors.
He said on Sunday that the bandits opened fire on five of their victims on Saturday, 6th November, 2021 and killed two while three others were seriously injured and were in the hospital receiving treatment.
Hayab’s words,“The lives of Kaduna abducted worshippers are in danger and require urgent intervention of government and security agencies.
“The insecurity in Kaduna state has continued to grow beyond our imagination and is threatening the peace of the nation.
“CAN Kaduna State is appealing to well meaning individuals, organisations, those in authority, especially the federal government and the international community to come to our rescue.
“The evil we are experiencing is more than what an ordinary person in Kaduna and Nigeria can handle.
“CAN is appealing to all Christians and people of our state to be united in fighting this evil and be watchful.”
In one of its prayer points for Nigeria, CSW.org.uk wrote of students kidnappedin Kaduna:
” ‘I was sleeping, I don’t even know what happened,
I just woke up and saw a gun on my chest. The man
told me that I should just stand up and follow him.’
“In the early hours of 5 July 2021, 13-year-old Seth was
taken from his bed at Bethel Baptist High School and
marched into the bush. In the confusion Seth managed
to slip away from his abductors – but 135 other children were not so fortunate.
“They were forced to march for 17 hours to the armed
gang’s camp, according to 13-year-old Emmanuel,
one of 28 children released two weeks later after their
parents had paid a significant ransom. They had been promised that all the children would be freed, but the abductors demanded more money. Seven children
escaped, and 15 more were released after a further
payment. At the time of writing (6) children remain in
captivity.
“Since 2020, there has been a dramatic rise across
Nigeria in abductions for ransom, largely carried out by armed men of Fulani ethnicity, with mass kidnappings from schools occurring frequently in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara states in particular.
And the situation is getting worse.
“In some of the most infamous kidnapping cases, like that of the 279 Chibok girls in 2014, and Leah Sharibu in 2018, girls were taken by terrorist groups (Boko Haram
and ISWAP) who are ideologically opposed to Western education.
“However, the motivation for the current attacks is to extract huge ransoms – often to purchase
sophisticated weaponry – and this represents a new
danger on a different scale.
“Nigerian students are becoming commodities to be taken en masse and bartered. Christian-owned schools have been particularly targeted, with churches and families being driven further and further into poverty by the enormous ransom demands.
“However, the lack
of effective government action has meant this crime
– which is low risk and high return for the perpetrators –
is now affecting every school, including Islamic ones.
(Watch
Watch an interview with Rebecca Sharibu, Leah’s
mother at csw.org.uk/idop)
“Pray
▪︎ For the immediate and safe release of all who
have been abducted for ransom, especially students,
that they would be able to return to their families and
resume their education.
▪︎ Lift up Leah Sharibu, Alice Ngaddah, Grace Taku,
the remaining Chibok girls and all who have been
abducted by terrorist factions to God in prayer,
petitioning for their release.
▪︎That the government of Nigeria would take swift
and decisive action to bring an end to every source of
violence and terror.
Campaign
Safe schools in Nigeria
“Join us in encouraging the UK to urge the Nigerian
Government to fully implement the Safe Schools
initiative. Sign the petition at csw.org.uk/campaigns
#FreeLeah
“Join the campaign to #FreeLeah”
