Rev Joseph Hayab, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria—CAN, in Kaduna State, has disclosed that in the last 4 years, bandits have killed 23 pastors and shutdown 200 churches across the State.
The CAN chairman made the revelation on Tuesday during a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Musa Garba.
The meeting was convened by pastors from different church denominations from the 23 local government areas of the state in order to fashion out means to tackle the security challenges in the state.
While recounting their ordeal, Hayab noted that the church had gone through difficult times due to the activities of criminal elements in the state.
He said, “A Pastor who was kidnapped on 8th August, 2023, told the CAN leadership that there are over 215 Christians abducted by the bandits in Birnin Gwani forest. They are still there and the Pastor told us that the bandits asked him to lead prayers for the 215 Christians while he was in their den.
“We are calling on the CP to look into this issue among many others holistically to build the confidence of the people once again.
“We have lost over 23 Pastors to bandits in Kaduna in the last few years. The recent one was the killing of Pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wayo when he went to his farm in Kujama in Chikun local government area. He hails from Kano State and he was serving God in Kaduna when the bandits shot and killed him. He was buried last Monday.
“Then the unfortunate incident that happened in Fadan Kamantan also added to the number of God’s servants that bandits have killed in Kaduna State.
“Let me say this to you, Commissioner, that over 200 churches have been shut down by bandits. The Baptist church probably has over 100 of their churches shut down. From Birnin Gwari to Chikun and Kajuru, the churches are no longer there.
“If you go to many churches you see pastors that came from churches that have been shut down because they cannot continue with it.” he said.
Also, former Secretary General of the Evangelical Church Winning All—ECWA, worldwide, Rev. Dr. Yunusa Nmadu Jnr and other pastors who spoke at the meeting, urged the police chief to consider bringing to book pastors and Imams who engaged in hate sermons and speeches.
The religious leaders called on the CP to look into cases of those selling hard drugs, saying most of the criminal acts were committed under the influence of hard drugs.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, the CP told the pastors that criminality had no religion and whoever engaged in any act of criminality should be addressed as a criminal without profiling him or her as a Christian, Muslim or by their tribes or ethnicity.
According to him, “Security is the responsibility of all and not only that of the government.While the government takes the lead in the protection of lives and property, individuals are also expected to play their parts particularly in the area of providing information.
“The meeting was basically to strengthen relationship between the police and religious leaders and listen to their challenges and together foster possible solutions. The police force under my leadership in the state will do its very best in the discharge of our duties, We should all be our brothers keeper.
“Always reach out to security personnel around your communities with prompt information once you identify suspicious persons.”
