The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has declared a two-day fasting and prayer programme following the abduction of 177 persons in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Association expressed deep anguish and condemned the incident, describing it as heart-rending, alarming, and unacceptable, particularly as it reportedly occurred during church services.
In a statement issued on Thursday, SKCLA Chairman, Apostle Dr Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, said the Kajuru incident marked the first time in the history of the area that worshippers from three different Christian denominations were abducted on the same day.
He lamented that the attack had added to the growing list of unresolved kidnappings across Southern Kaduna, especially in Kauru, Kachia, and other vulnerable communities, where families continue to live in uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.
The Christian leaders called on the Kaduna State Government, security agencies, and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts towards the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted victims.
They also urged decisive and sustained action to halt what they described as the recurring cycle of kidnappings and insecurity in the region.
As a spiritual response to the crisis, Apostle Kure said the Association had proclaimed a two-day fasting and prayer programme anchored on Psalm 57:2–3, seeking divine intervention for the safe return of all abducted persons across Southern Kaduna.
According to the statement, the fasting will commence on Friday and culminate in special prayer sessions 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 Kure said.
He added that the programme also reflects rare unity among Christians across denominations at a critical moment in the region’s history.
The Association called on Christians within and outside Southern Kaduna to participate fully in the fast, while appealing to the wider Nigerian society to stand in solidarity with affected communities, particularly families of victims in Kajuru, Kauru, Kachia, and other flashpoints.
“We will not be silent in the face of evil, nor 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.
