World News

Eight Nigerian Christians abducted from church bus

At least eight Christians were abducted by gunmen on the 26th of March while traveling on a bus to a church program in the Kaduna state of northwest Nigeria.

The victims, members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, were traveling to prepare for the church’s “Let’s Go a Fishing” Easter program in Kafanchan when gunman removed them from their bus and took them away in a vehicle, told a church spokesperson.

A user reportedly posted a picture on Facebook of the victims’ empty church bus and said all passengers were kidnapped along Kachia Road. The church bus has an inscription that reads, “The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Region 30, Trinity Sanctuary, Kaduna.”

Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, RCCG head of media and public relations, confirmed the kidnapping. According to the Nigerian news outlet, the pastor said the ministry is working with security agencies to secure the abductees’ return.

“We feel completely disturbed by the development and as a church, the best we can do is to pray that God will intervene and these brethren will return home to their loved ones,” told Olubiyi “As a church, we are praying now and asking God to take charge of the situation.”

The police have launched a search for the kidnapped Christians, and the abductors have demanded a ransom payment from the church, Vanguard daily newspaper reported. It is not immediately clear who abducted the church members. 

“Our heart bleeds that a bus-load of Christians from RCCG from Kaduna Province going for a prayer work to Kafanchan was abducted on their way,” Enwer was quoted as saying. “The incident of kidnapping is a case too many and has left bitter tastes in our mouths.”

He said divine intervention is the only way to end what is happening in Nigeria.

A spokesperson for the church told Channels TV that the kidnappers demanded a ransom equivalent to over $130,000.

Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, told The Punch that the church bus had been recovered. 

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