Over 40 worshipers were reportedly abducted by some bandits on Sunday while attending church at Bege Baptist Church, Madala on Buruku Baringi Road in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident was confirmed to news reporters in Kaduna on Monday by Rev. John Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna State chapter.
According to Hayab, the incident took place around 9:30 am, during the worshippers’ time in the service.
“Around 9:30 am, the churchgoers were attending a Sunday service when they heard gunshots very close to the church. When the gunmen attacked the church, they took 40 worshipers with them, the man claimed.
However, he went on to say that 15 of the kidnapped worshippers managed to escape, leaving 25 others in the kidnappers’ hideout.
The remaining 25 abducted people are currently being held captive with no word from their captors, he claimed. “Somehow, along the way, 15 of the kidnapped persons returned,” he said.
On behalf of the remaining 25 victims, Hayab added that efforts were being made to get in touch with the kidnappers.
The cleric said, “Efforts are being made to contact the kidnappers regarding the remaining individuals and prayed that the kidnappers would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families.
Neither the state government nor the state police command provided an official confirmation.
Mohammed Jalige, the public relations officer for the state police command, had not yet returned a call or text from our correspondent as of the time this report was filed.
