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Asks churches to pray for safe return of Muslim worshippers
Following last week’s mass abduction of Muslim worshippers from prayer grounds during Friday Jumu’at prayers in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has appealed to the government to provide security at places of worship, especially during Friday Jumu’at prayers and Sunday services.
Chairman of CAN in Niger State, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, made the appeal in a homily on Sunday at St. Michael Catholic Cathedral Church, Kontagora, saying that there is an urgent need to secure places of worship in the state.
His appeal came following the abduction of an unspecified number of worshippers from mosques in Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana, all in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, during Jumu’at prayers on Friday, August 21, 2026.
About 30 others who tried to escape during the invasion were shot and killed by the gunmen.
According to the clergyman, “the whole of Borgu Emirate which include Agwara and Borgu local government areas need strong and permanent security presence so that those in the rural communities can live without fear of being attacked.”
The CAN chairman, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, condemned in strong terms the abduction of hundreds of Muslim worshippers during Jumu’at prayers, describing the incident as barbaric and sheer wickedness.
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He maintained that “for us, an attack on any place of worship, irrespective of religion, is an attack on the sanctity of places of worship and a threat to the wider community.
“And as a Body, we express solidarity with the victims and their families and share in the grief of the affected Muslim communities.”
He disclosed that “millions of Christians and all the churches across the state have intensified prayers for the safe returns of the abducted worshippers in Borgu local government area.
“As a Body, we have set aside today (Sunday) to call on all Nigerlites, Christians and churches across Niger State to use this Sunday service to cry to God and to pray specifically for the safe return of the abductees and for God to help our security agencies.
“We are praying and we believe God has heard and answered our prayers already,” he added.
He, however, commended the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, for their roles so far towards rescuing the kidnapped victims.
