06/08/2019 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – Seventeen Christians in Nigeria’s north-central Kaduna State were kidnapped during choir practice on the evening of May 18. On that same night, gunmen shot a member of a Baptist church in the region and kidnapped two other members.
“As we were in the church, Fulani herdsmen numbering over 20 just surrounded the church and started shooting,” choir member, Ezekiel Ishaya, told Morning Star News. Other church members explained that the militants surrounded the entire church, making it completely impossible for anyone to exit the premises.
The militants demanded to know the location of the pastor’s house and threatened to kill all of the choir members if they did not answer. According to reports, the ordeal lasted more than 30 minutes. Some of the militants went to the pastor’s house, while others remained to guard the church and continue threatening the choristers.
In a press statement released on May 23, Rev. Nathaniel Waziri, Chairman of the ECWA Zaria District Church Council, confirmed that Rev. Zakariya Ido, his daughter, and 15 other church members were kidnapped by the gunmen.
On that same night, a member of Nasara Baptist Church in Guguwa-Kwata village, located 37 kilometers (22 miles) north of the city of Kaduna, was killed by a different group of gunmen who also kidnapped two other church members. The pastor of the church, Pastor Ibrahim, confirmed that the brother killed was known as Obadiah Samson.
For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].
