The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has announced a two-day fasting and prayer programme to seek divine intervention following the recent kidnapping of 177 persons in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the association expressed deep anguish over the incident, condemning it as heart-rending, alarming and unacceptable.
The Christian leaders described the Kajuru attack as unprecedented in the history of Southern Kaduna, noting that members of three different Christian denominations were reportedly abducted on the same day while attending church services.
According to the statement, the incident has further heightened fears in the region, coming amid a wave of unresolved abductions across several communities in Southern Kaduna, particularly in Kauru and Kachia Local Government Areas, where many families are still uncertain about the fate of their loved ones.
“The Kajuru kidnapping adds to a growing list of painful and unresolved cases across Southern Kaduna, leaving families traumatised and communities living in fear,” the association said.
SKCLA called on the Kaduna State Government, security agencies and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts towards the immediate and unconditional release of all those abducted in Kajuru, while also taking decisive measures to end the recurring cycle of kidnappings in the region.
As part of a spiritual response to the crisis, the association announced a two-day fasting and prayer programme anchored on Psalm 57:2–3, aimed at securing the safe return of all abducted persons across Southern Kaduna.
The fasting is scheduled to commence on Friday and will conclude with special prayer sessions in 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,” the statement said.
“It is also a demonstration of rare unity, as believers across denominations stand together at a critical moment in our history.”
The association urged Christians in Southern Kaduna and beyond to participate fully in the exercise and appealed to the wider Nigerian society to show 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, neither will we lose hope. While we trust God for divine intervention, we continue to demand accountability and concrete action from those entrusted with the security of lives and property,” the statement concluded.
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