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• Says 99% of victims in some Northern communities Christians
• Recounts killings, sexual violence, mass displacement in Kaduna
• Seeks release of Leah Sharibu, other captives
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSWN) has raised the alarm over the continued killing and abduction of Christians in parts of Kaduna State, disclosing that 17 worshippers kidnapped during an attack on churches in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area, in April died in captivity, while four victims of a separate abduction in Awon village have remained in the custody of their abductors for more than six months.
The organisation also alleged that Christians accounted for about 99 per cent of victims in some of the communities affected by insecurity in Northern Nigeria, where persistent attacks, mass kidnappings, sexual violence and displacement had forced thousands of residents to abandon their homes and disrupted religious activities.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Rev. Dr. Yunusa Nmadu, who disclosed this during a presentation at ECWA Goodnews Church, Kaduna, to mark the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), yesterday said the security situation in parts of Kaduna had deteriorated to the point where worshippers could no longer freely attend church services without fear of attacks.
Speaking on the theme, “Light in the Darkest Places,” Nmadu cited incidents in Kachia, Kajuru, Kauru and Kagarko local government areas, where he said armed groups had repeatedly attacked communities, abducted residents and subjected captives, particularly women and children, to degrading treatment.
He recalled the April 5, 2026, attack on Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area, during which gunmen reportedly invaded three churches while worshippers were attending services, killing five people and abducting 37 others, mostly women and children.
According to him, 12 of the abducted victims escaped at different times, 17 reportedly died in captivity, while the remaining eight were eventually released after spending five months with their abductors.
Nmadu also drew attention to the April 20 kidnapping in Awon village, also in Kachia Local Government Area, where 11 people were abducted.
He said one victim escaped, six were confirmed dead, while four remained in captivity after more than six months and were reportedly in critical condition.
The CSWN chief executive described the incidents as evidence of the continuing vulnerability of rural communities, where residents faced repeated attacks despite appeals for improved security.
He also recalled the January 18, 2026, mass abduction at Kurmin Wali in Kajuru Local Government Area, where 177 worshippers were reportedly kidnapped during Sunday services in three churches.
Nmadu alleged that the authorities initially denied the incident but subsequently acknowledged it following interventions and public advocacy by organisations, including CSW.
He said the victims regained their freedom after spending 18 days in captivity.
The cleric maintained that the attacks had created widespread fear among Christian communities, disrupted religious activities and forced many families to seek refuge in internally displaced persons’ camps.
He expressed concern that thousands of residents had been uprooted from their ancestral communities, while those who remained continued to live under threats of further violence.
Nmadu also described the prolonged captivity of Leah Sharibu, abducted in February 2018, as a painful reminder of the plight of victims who remained in the hands of armed groups years after their abduction.
Beyond the killings and kidnappings, he raised concerns over the conditions in which abducted persons were held, alleging that women and children were particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, hunger and other forms of abuse.
According to him, abductors routinely separated male and female captives upon arrival at their camps, restricted their movement and denied them adequate access to food, clean water and basic hygiene facilities.
He alleged that women, including elderly victims and nursing mothers, were repeatedly subjected to sexual violence, with some survivors returning home pregnant after regaining their freedom.
Nmadu said the conditions in the camps were often inhumane, as captives reportedly endured prolonged periods without proper meals, soap or adequate sanitation.
He lamented that the suffering of victims frequently continued after their release because of the physical and psychological consequences of their experiences.
The CSWN chief executive said the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church should draw attention not only to the plight of Christians facing violence but also to the responsibility of religious organisations and the wider society to support victims and advocate for their freedom.
He explained that CSW had spent more than 17 years documenting violations of freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria, supporting victims and survivors, training human rights defenders and engaging government institutions on human rights concerns.
“Behind every report and every statistic is a person: a widow, a child, a pastor, a family who has lost a home or a loved one. They are not numbers to us. They are our brothers and sisters, and when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer with it.”
Nmadu urged churches to sustain prayers and advocacy for people still in captivity, particularly those whose families had spent months or years seeking their release.
Reflecting on the theme of the observance, he cited John 1:5, which speaks of light shining in darkness without being overcome, and encouraged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith and solidarity with victims of persecution.
“We are one Church. One Family. If one bleeds, we all pray. Faith under fire still burns. The persecuted Church doesn’t need our pity. They need our prayers.”
He called on Christians to remember victims during personal prayers, family devotions and church gatherings, while seeking divine intervention for the release of those still being held.
A similar presentation and prayer session for persecuted Christians was held at Albaraka Baptist Church, near Mobile Police, Kaduna.
Nmadu also announced plans by CSW to organise an online prayer session as part of the IDOP activities, inviting Christians to participate in prayers for victims of persecution in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
