by Lindy Lowry in Africa, Stories of Persecution
Our field has just alerted us that 17 Christians in Nigeria have been kidnapped from a church. The group of church members, which includes a pastor, his daughter at least and at least nine other women, had gathered in the church for a choir practice.
Police confirmed that on Saturday, May 18, around midnight an estimated 20 unidentified gunmen entered Unguwar Kuli village, a border community between Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State and Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.
“The gunmen started shooting sporadically, went and intercepted some church members while closing from service,” according to the report.
Reportedly, the attackers surrounded the church where the choir practice was taking place and “just started shooting,” a witness in Dankade village told Nigerian newspaper The Cable.
“It was at about 12:30 midnight,” the witness said. “We had a combined choir practice in the church with other neighboring communities. Everybody was terrified but there was no how we could run because they had already surrounded the church.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria reports that the kidnappers are demanding N30 million ($83,100) in ransom.
This attack and recent others indicate ever-increasing insecurity in Nigeria, which is preparing for its presidential inauguration. Please be in prayer with us. One of our field workers in the country shared: “This has brought fear to the believers around the area and also tears to the families. Please, they need the prayers of the believers.”
This part of Nigeria is likely to be infested with radical Fulani Herdsmen, rather than Boko Haram. But these are not the only Muslim terrorist groups operating in Nigeria, though some may be just criminal gangs.
Katsina State, Nigeria
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