After Mass Abduction: Kurmin Wali Community Holds Church Services Amid Tight Security

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: Church services were held on Sunday under tight security in Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following the abduction of 177 residents by suspected bandits last week.

A visit to the area by a team of Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum revealed that attendance was noticeably low across the three affected churches, as many worshippers are either among those abducted or have fled the community for fear of further attacks.

The atmosphere during the services was sombre, with prayers focused largely on the safe return of the kidnapped victims and the restoration of peace to the troubled area.

Speaking to our correspondent, the Secretary of Cherubim and Seraphim Church Two, Mr. Jonathan Na’allah, said the overriding concern of church members remains the safety of their loved ones currently in captivity.

He noted that residents continue to live in fear and apprehension due to recurring incidents of kidnapping in the community. However, he added that the visible presence of security operatives during the church services provided some level of reassurance to worshippers.

A combined church service involving ECWA Church, and Cherubim and Seraphim Church One, was held in the same premises, where members offered prayers for divine intervention and for government efforts to succeed in addressing the prevailing security challenges.

Leaders of the churches, Mallam Danjuma Wali and Mr. Yunana Adauji, commended the Kaduna State Government for its promise of infrastructural development in the area. They, however, appealed for urgent and decisive action to secure the release of the abducted victims, stressing that the community cannot return to normalcy while many of its members remain in captivity.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has commenced moves to fulfill its infrastructural commitments, as trucks and caterpillars have been deployed to the road linking the community in preparation for construction work. The intervention follows a pledge made by Governor Uba Sani during his visit to Kurmin Wali shortly after the abduction incident.

Residents expressed hope that sustained security operations and the promised development projects would help restore confidence and stability in the community.
-Shindong