By Suleiman Anyalewechi
With outright denials of the bizarre and audacious mass kidnapping of Christian worshipers by Bandits, the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders on Thursday, January 22, 2026, took their case to God.
The Source reports that armed hoodlums had, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, invaded some Churches in Kurmi Wali area of Kajuru local council of Kaduna state, carting away, in the process, no fewer than 177 worshipers.
Locals who had drawn attention to the mass kidnapping, however, had their claims not only debunked by the Kaduna State Government and Police authorities, but also described the report as an orchestrated attempt to rupture the fragile peace of Kaduna State.
But in a statement posted on his official site on Wednesday January 21, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, FPPRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, while confirming the unfortunate incident, attributed the earlier denials by the Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State police Commissioner, CP Muhammadu Rabiu, on the need to avoid flaring tempers, and creating unnecessary panic among the people.
According to him, the authorities were also being cautious in the face of contradictory reports on incident.
” Some individuals from the affected areas also disputed the earlier police reports thus creating uncertainty, and reinforcing the need for caution, and thorough verification by the Police, and other security agencies before making conclusive statements on such a sensitive matter.
” In this context, comments made by the Kaduna CP during a media briefing were intended to prevent unnecessary panic while facts were being confirmed.
“Those remarks which have since been widely misinterpreted were not a denial of the incident, but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of those affected”, Hundeyin stated.
However, many were not persuaded by such rhetorics as the authorities’ earlier perceived attempts to downplay the condemnable development has since significantly eroded the people’s trust and confidence in the system.
In a statement on Thursday ,the SKCLA Chairman, Emmanuel Kure, informed that the people has decided to adopt a spiritual response to the incident by declaring a two-day fasting and prayer sessions seeking the safe return of the abducted persons.
According to him the fasting and prayer sessions will commence on Friday January 23, and end on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
The exercise will be capped with a special prayer session in all churches on Sunday, January 25.
“This call for fasting and prayer is a united cry to God for mercy, protection, and the safe return of our brothers and sisters from captivity.
“It is also a demonstration of rare unity, as believers across denominations stand together at a critical moment in our history.
“We will not be silent in the face of evil, nor will we lose hope. We trust God for divine intervention, and we will continue to demand accountability and concrete actions from those entrusted with the security of lives and property”, Kure noted.
This is as the body called on security agencies, the Kaduna State Government and all relevant authorities to intensify efforts towards securing freedom for the victims.
The SKCLA while expressing concern over the growing and recurring circle of kidnappings in the area, urged the authorities to come up with lasting control measures.
Meanwhile, the abductors are said to be demanding the replacement of about 17 motorcycles alleged to have been destroyed earlier by security agencies, and about N29 million as part of the preconditions for the release of their victims.
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