Terrorist violence in Nigeria’s Kaduna State has led to the deaths of 23 pastors and the closure of over 200 churches in the past four years, as reported by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The chairman of CAN in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph Hayab, shared these alarming figures during a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Musa Garba, and other pastors.
The meeting aimed to address the ongoing crisis affecting the Christian community in the state. Rev. Hayab highlighted the plight of over 215 Christians who have been abducted by bandits in the Birnin Gwari forest and remain captive. He urged Commissioner Garba to take appropriate action to restore public confidence.
During the meeting, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, former Secretary General of the Evangelical Church Winning All, and other pastors also called for action against religious leaders promoting hate speech. They also emphasized the need for the police to investigate those involved in the sale of hard drugs, as they believe substance abuse is linked to criminal activities in the state.
Commissioner Garba responded by stressing that criminality has no religious affiliation and that security is the responsibility of all, not just the government. He expressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between the police and religious leaders to find potential solutions to the ongoing issues.
Kaduna State is one of the six states in North-West Nigeria severely impacted by bandit activities. Over the past four years, the closure of more than 115 Baptist churches has been forced, affecting areas ranging from Birni Gwari to Chukun and Kajuru. This has resulted in many pastors being unable to continue their ministry.
The crisis has forced various denominations, including ECWA, Assemblies of God, and the Catholic Church, to close their doors due to the prevailing insecurity in Kaduna State.
The violence against Christians in Nigeria is particularly severe, with 90% of the over 5,600 Christians killed for their faith worldwide last year being Nigerian, according to Open Doors, a persecution watchdog group. The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report also highlighted a spike in deadly violence impacting both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
Human rights groups and Nigerian Christians have expressed concerns about the violence in the Middle Belt states, where predominantly Christian farming communities have been targeted by radicalized herdsmen. Thousands of lives have been lost in recent years, leading to fears that the violence has reached genocidal levels.
It is important to note that the Nigerian government rejects claims that the violence is driven by religious conflicts and maintains that it is part of long-standing farmer-herder clashes.
Tragically, the violence persists, with incidents such as the burning of a Catholic priest’s house and the death of a seminarian in a suspected terrorist attack in Kaduna State’s Fadan Kamantan area. Kidnappings and killings of Christians continue, highlighting the vulnerable situation faced by religious communities in the region.
The ongoing crisis in Kaduna State necessitates urgent action from both religious and governmental leaders to ensure the safety and security of all citizens. Only through cooperation and concerted efforts can peace and stability be restored to Nigeria’s troubled state.
