Pray for the Southern Kaduna, Nigeria.
The security guard, identified only as Luka, was killed in the abduction of the Rev. Joseph Akeke of St. John’s Catholic Church from his home in the Kudenda area of Kaduna city, and the assailants killed another man in the predominantly Christian area as they shot sporadically while fleeing, area residents said.
A woman and two children also were reportedly abducted along with Akeke in the attack in Kaduna state’s South County.
“Let’s pray for God intervention and for his safe release,” Kudenda area resident Peter Mamza said in a text message to Morning Star News about the kidnapped priest on Tuesday morning (March 8).
Mamza was one of four area residents who sent texts about the attack. Another area resident, Chinyere Onyewaku, wrote, “These are challenges we face as Christians in Nigeria,” while Isaac Ishadu stated that such attacks have become institutionalized. He prayed for “God to free His church from the hands of the evil ones.”
The Daily Trust newspaper quoted residents as saying the church security guard and another man were killed in the attack and that the priest, a woman and two children were kidnapped.
Also early on Tuesday,a Christian second-year student at the University of Jos was kidnapped in Jos, capital of Plateau state in north-central Nigeria, her classmate said. Rita Chizoba Ben Igiri, a business student at the university’s Faculty of Management Sciences, was kidnapped at about 12:30 am, Gideon Bright Paul told Morning Star News in a text message.
In Niger state in northwest Nigeria, area residents said Fulani herdsmen and other armed terrorists attacked a Baptist church after a worship service on Feb. 27 and kidnapped 10 people, including the pastor. 11 a.m. Bilha Daniel said her parents and brother David Daniel were among those abducted, but that her brother escaped hours later.
Mamza was one of four area residents who sent texts about the attack. Another area resident, Chinyere Onyewaku, wrote, “These are challenges we face as Christians in Nigeria,” while Isaac Ishadu stated that such attacks have become institutionalized. He prayed for “God to free His church from the hands of the evil ones.”
