36 Christians Kidnapped in Nigeria’s Kaduna State
07/28/2022 Nigeria (International Christian Concern)- On Monday, July 25, an estimated 36 Christians were kidnapped from a village in Nigeria’s Kaduna state. The kidnappers are estimated to be Islamic extremists who performed door-to-door kidnappings in the village.
An area resident described the kidnappings to Morning Star News. They said, “The Muslim terrorists attacked the community at about 9 p.m., shooting at the people, and broke into their houses and forcefully took away the victims to an unknown place.”
Additionally, in Nigeria’s northwest Sokoto state, Tony Udemezue, a member of one of the Catholic parishes, was kidnapped at gunpoint on Monday at his house. Reverend Chris Omotosho, the communications director for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, released a press statement about the kidnapping.
“There was no police response to the distressed phone call by Udemezue at about 2 a.m. This is despite several phone calls he made to the police before he was taken away. Please let us keep him and his family in prayers.”
A week ago, two Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria’s Kaduna state and one of them, Reverend John Mark Cheitnum, was later killed on July 19.
A funeral was held for Reverend Cheitnum on July 21, where Reverend Julius Kundi, the bishop of the Kafanchan Diocese, spoke on the rising number of abductions in Nigeria.
“I was crushed by the news of the death, but I am convinced that his death will prove to our enemies the genuineness and the beauty of our faith. Those whose stock in trade is the abduction and the gruesome murder of members of the clergy should know that this will not stop us from courageously carrying the torch of the gospel to the ends of the earth, notwithstanding the barrage of attacks on our faith.”
Please pray for the safe return of those kidnapped, and for an end to abductions in northern Nigeria.
Press Release: https://www.persecution.org/2022/07/28/36-christians-kidnapped-nigerias-kaduna-state/
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