16 Kidnapped As Bandits Attack Kaduna Church

In a tragic turn of events, 16 worshippers were kidnapped during a Sunday service at Alheri Baptist Church in Gyiya village, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State. 

The armed assailants disrupted the congregation, leaving many worshippers fleeing in panic.  

This incident occurred just a week after the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, announced a peace agreement with bandits operating in the region. 

The agreement aimed to curtail the rampant kidnappings and violent attacks that have plagued the state, particularly in local government areas such as Chikun, Kajuru, Kagarko, Giwa, and Birnin Gwari.  

The peace deal, brokered with federal government support, involved several bandit leaders and their followers pledging to lay down arms and renounce violence. 

Governor Sani described the agreement as a step towards ending banditry and announced rehabilitation programs for ‘repentant’ bandits to reintegrate them into society.  

Despite these measures, the Sunday attack raises serious questions about the efficacy of the peace initiative.

Witnesses reported that the armed bandits stormed the church mid-service, abducting 16 individuals and scattering the congregation.  

Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command for comments were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. 

The attack underscores ongoing concerns about the volatile security situation in the region, even as the government strives for reconciliation and peace.  

Governor Sani’s administration had emphasized a dual approach of dialogue and decisive action against unrepentant perpetrators.

However, the latest abduction may test the credibility of the peace deal and the government’s ability to maintain law and order in Kaduna State.