In a brazen and horrifying attack, bandits stormed the Bege Baptist Church in Madala, Kaduna State during Sunday service, abducting 40 worshippers.
News About Nigeria gathered that the incident occurred along Buruku Baringi road in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, the churchgoers were in the middle of their Sunday service around 9:30 am when they heard gunshots very close to the church.
The attackers, brandishing weapons, made their way into the church and forcibly took 40 worshippers.
Although 15 of the kidnapped persons have since returned, there are still 25 people who are in captivity, with no word yet from their abductors.
This incident is the latest in a string of abductions and attacks carried out by bandits in the state. The state government has been grappling with insecurity for some time, with bandits wreaking havoc in several communities.
The attacks have led to the displacement of many people, with some fleeing their homes to escape the violence.
The abduction of the 25 worshippers in Kaduna is a stark reminder of the urgent need for the government and security agencies to take decisive action to end the menace of banditry in the state.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter has urged the government to take immediate action to rescue the remaining abducted persons and put an end to the insecurity in the state.
The State Police spokesman, DSP Mohammed Jalige has promised to contact the DPO of the affected area for prompt action.
It remains to be seen whether the authorities will take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of Nigerians in Kaduna and other parts of the country.
