By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, has made a passionate appeal to Governor Nasir el-Rufai that before he leaves office to ensure the safe return of 16 worshippers of Bege Baptist Church, Madala near Buruku in Chikun Local Government Area abducted by bandits three weeks ago.
The state chapter of CAN said if the present state government fails, the incoming state government should make it a priority to ensure the safe and quick return of the worshippers in the hands of their abductors.
Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the state chairman of CAN while speaking to New Nigerian in Kaduna yesterday, said, “Our appeal is either the outgoing state government to use this last 24 hours to rescue our people and let them come back home, but if they failed then our appeal is to the new coming state government to come in with a new leaf of life and ensure that these people do not last another 48 hours in the hands of their abductors. Let it be their first primary assignment of the new government in the state to deliver the worshippers of Bege Baptist Church Madala.”
He added, “We cannot have a government and this evil will go on unchecked. We cannot have a government and citizens will suffer this kind of treatment and pains in the hands of evil people and the government is not doing anything to safe the people.”
According to CAN state chairman, for the past three weeks, 40 worshippers were abducted at Bege Baptist Church, Madala near Buruku, saying, “Sixteen (16) of the worshippers are still with the bandits, all efforts to get the bandits to release them have not yielded any fruit. As l speak to you this morning, the bandits are still making huge demands, these poor villagers do not have the money to get these people out, the bandits are demanding for motorcycles, money, where will these people have such things to give to the bandits?”
He lamented that the poor villagers could not go to farm in the year following the insecurity and their children, wives and husbands are kept in the bush while nobody is not saying anything.
He further lamented that those in power are busy of what to grab next, stressing that nobody has shown concern on how to get the affected people out from their abductors.
He explained, “The other 24 abducted worshippers that came back was not because anybody paid money for them, some were released by the bandits because they were weak and could not continue to travel, some the bandits thought they were dead and abandoned them and they came back home.”
Rev. Hayab stated that he had communication with the villagers and their cry is how to raise funds to meet the demands of the bandits.
