The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association has condemned the mass abduction of worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the incident as a chilling escalation of insecurity and a direct assault on freedom of worship.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its chairman, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, the association said it was deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of 177 people from three separate church congregations during Sunday services in Kajuru. The group noted that, to its knowledge, this was the first time in Southern Kaduna’s history that worshippers from multiple Christian denominations were seized simultaneously while gathered for worship.

The association said the coordinated nature of the attacks suggested a disturbing level of planning and impunity on the part of the perpetrators, and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of existing security measures in the region.

Kure, a prominent cleric and long-time advocate for peace in Southern Kaduna, said the Kajuru abductions had further compounded an already dire security situation. He pointed to a pattern of unresolved kidnappings and violent attacks in communities across Kauru, Kachia and other parts of Southern Kaduna, where residents have repeatedly reported raids on villages, highway ambushes and the seizure of farmers from their fields.

According to the association, many families in these communities are still living with the trauma of previous abductions, with loved ones either still in captivity or unaccounted for. The latest incident, it said, has deepened the sense of fear and helplessness among residents, who now feel unsafe even in their places of worship.

“Our people are living in pain and uncertainty,” the statement said, noting that the emotional and economic toll of repeated kidnappings has been devastating. Families have been forced to sell property, abandon farms and businesses, and relocate from ancestral homes in search of safety, while others struggle under the weight of ransom demands they cannot afford.

The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association called on the Kaduna State Government, federal authorities and security agencies to act with urgency and resolve. It demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted worshippers and urged the deployment of adequate security personnel and resources to vulnerable communities across the region.

The group insisted that the Kajuru incident must not be treated as an isolated case, but as part of a broader pattern of insecurity that has plagued Southern Kaduna for years. It urged authorities to move beyond routine condemnations and launch a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation to dismantle the networks behind the kidnappings.

The association also pressed for greater accountability from those charged with protecting lives and property. It said communities in Southern Kaduna have repeatedly raised alarms about threats and suspicious movements, yet often feel their concerns are ignored until after attacks occur.

“We will not be silent in the face of evil, neither will we lose hope,” the statement declared. “We trust God for divine intervention, while continuing to demand accountability and concrete action from those entrusted with the security of lives and property.”

As part of its response, the association announced a two-day programme of fasting and prayer across Southern Kaduna, dedicated to the safe return of all abducted persons and the restoration of peace in the region. The spiritual exercise, anchored on Psalm 57:2–3, is to be observed by churches of different denominations, culminating in a special intercessory service.

The choice of the biblical text, which speaks of crying out to God for mercy and deliverance, reflects the mood of many Christians in the area, who feel caught between fear of further attacks and frustration over what they see as inadequate protection from the state.

“This call to fasting and prayer is a united cry to God for mercy, protection and the safe return of our brothers and sisters from captivity,” Kure said. He added that the initiative represents a rare and deliberate show of unity among Christians across denominational lines at a critical moment for Southern Kaduna.

Church leaders say the spiritual mobilisation is not meant to replace the responsibility of government and security agencies, but to complement it. They argue that while they will continue to engage authorities and demand action, they also believe that the scale and persistence of the violence require a moral and spiritual response.

The association appealed to Christians within and outside Southern Kaduna to join the fasting and prayer, urging congregations nationwide to remember the abducted worshippers and their families in their services. It also called on Nigerians of all faiths and backgrounds to show solidarity with communities affected by kidnappings, particularly in Kajuru, Kauru and Kachia.

Human rights advocates and civil society groups have long warned that the repeated abductions in Kaduna and neighbouring states are eroding public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens. In many rural communities, residents say they feel abandoned, as bandits and armed groups move with apparent ease across difficult terrain, targeting villages, schools and churches.

Security analysts note that the Kajuru incident fits into a broader pattern of attacks on soft targets in northern Nigeria, where worship centres, schools and remote settlements are often poorly defended. They argue that without improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies and stronger community-based early warning systems, such attacks are likely to continue.

For the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association, however, the immediate priority is the safe return of the abducted worshippers and an end to what it describes as a cycle of terror that has gone on for too long. The group insists that the right to worship freely and without fear is fundamental, and that any society that fails to protect that right risks sliding into deeper instability.

As families in Kajuru and other affected communities wait anxiously for news of their loved ones, church leaders say they will keep up both their spiritual and civic pressure. They have pledged to continue engaging with government officials, security commanders and community leaders, while also rallying their congregations to pray, fast and support victims of the violence.

“Our faith teaches us to hope against hope,” the association’s statement concluded. “We believe that justice and peace are possible in Southern Kaduna, but they will not come by silence or indifference. They will come when those in authority act decisively, and when people of conscience stand together against evil.”