Southern Kaduna Summit Puts Spotlight on Stalled Rescue of 166 Abducted Worshippers
Christian leaders in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, on Saturday used a regional prayer summit in Kafanchan to press the state government and security agencies for urgent action over the continued captivity of 166 worshippers abducted from churches in Kajuru Local Government Area, citing prolonged silence and rising trauma among affected families.
The call was made during the 2026 Southern Kaduna Prayer Summit held at the Kafanchan New Township Stadium, where clerics and political leaders gathered under the theme “Worship His Majesty.”
Beyond prayers, speakers said the gathering had become a platform to demand renewed security attention following the January 18 abduction of worshippers from three churches in Kurmin Wali village.
According to accounts presented at the summit, 177 worshippers, including children as young as five, women and elderly men were taken during church services by armed bandits.
Eleven of the victims later escaped and returned to the community with injuries and visible signs of trauma, while 166 others remain unaccounted for weeks after the incident.
Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders, Apostle Emmanuel Kure, said the lack of progress in the rescue efforts was deeply troubling, especially when compared with similar incidents elsewhere.
“It has been almost two weeks, and nobody has been released. In other cases, early government intervention often leads to quick release of victims, but here, there has been no movement,” he said.
Kure warned that the prolonged captivity of the worshippers was compounding the suffering of families and weakening confidence in security institutions.
He argued that the economic realities facing rural communities made it impossible for them to meet ransom demands reportedly placed on victims’ release.
“There is no farmer in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, or Sokoto who can raise N50m or N80m in the present economic climate. These ransom demands are destroying our rural communities,” he lamented.
Beyond urging government action, the cleric called for stronger community involvement in safeguarding worship centres, stressing that insecurity in religious spaces posed a broader threat to social cohesion.
“Our holy places must remain sacred. Christians and Muslims alike must rise to ensure that our places of worship are protected. If government resources are stretched, communities must remain vigilant and coordinate with security agencies to prevent further attacks,” he said.
While noting that no deaths had been confirmed among those abducted, Kure described the emotional toll on families and communities as severe, adding that children in affected areas were particularly traumatised by the incident.
The summit also featured political voices, including a member of the House of Representatives for Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency, Dan Amos, who urged religious leaders to sustain prayers for national peace and stability as the 2027 general elections draw closer.
He acknowledged ongoing government efforts in key sectors, particularly electricity, and expressed optimism that improved power supply would stimulate industrial growth and attract investors to Kaduna State and Southern Kaduna.
“Development is not today, tomorrow, or the next day. With commitment, consistency, and the guidance of God, we will surely get there,” he said.
As prayers concluded, speakers maintained that faith alone would not be enough without decisive security action, insisting that the safe return of the abducted worshippers must remain a top priority for authorities.
