“This Is Heartbreaking,” CAN Reacts as Bandits Abduct Worshippers During Sunday Service in Kaduna

Suspected bandits on Sunday abducted several Christian worshippers during church services in parts of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, sparking fear across affected communities.

The attack occurred in communities within the Kajuru axis, where armed men reportedly stormed church premises during worship activities and took away residents, including women and children, to an undisclosed location.

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, confirmed the incident, describing it as “heartbreaking” and deeply troubling for families whose relatives were taken.

According to Rev. Hayab, some of the abducted worshippers later escaped, but many others remained in captivity as of the time of filing this report.

Residents of the affected communities said the attackers operated for several hours without resistance, raising concerns over the worsening security situation in Southern Kaduna.

Efforts to obtain official comments from security agencies were unsuccessful. At press time, neither the Kaduna State Police Command nor military authorities had issued a statement on the incident. The Kaduna State Government was also yet to respond.

Survivors and relatives of those abducted said they were awaiting concrete action from authorities to secure the release of the victims.

Communities in Kajuru and other parts of Southern Kaduna have repeatedly called for improved security presence and decisive measures against criminal groups operating in the area.