23 Pastors killed, over 200 churches closed in Kaduna’ – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has reported that in the past four years, around 200 churches were forced to close, and tragically, 23 pastors lost their lives due to frequent attacks by bandits in various parts of Kaduna State.

Reverend Joseph Hayab, the Chairman of CAN in Kaduna State, revealed these distressing statistics during a confidence-building meeting. The gathering included Christian leaders from all 23 local government areas and the state’s Commissioner of Police, Musa Garba.

“Commissioner, I must emphasize that more than 200 churches in Kaduna have been compelled to shut their doors. The Baptist community alone has witnessed the closure of over 115 churches spanning from Birni Gwari to Chukun and Kajuru. These once vibrant places of worship no longer exist,” lamented Hayab.

He went on to explain the dire situation, noting that many pastors have been left with no choice but to seek refuge in other churches after their own places of worship were forcibly closed down.

“ECWA can tell you hundreds of their churches, Assemblies of God, the Catholic Church and many other churches. So, we are forced to shut down because of insecurity in Kaduna State,” the Kaduna CAN chairman said according to ChannelsTV.

Earlier, CP Garba had promised to tackle the insecurity situation in the state head-on.

Other speakers at the meeting tasked the police commissioner to match his words with action by going after the bandits and also consider sanctioning religious leaders who engage in hate sermons and speeches.

Banditry and terrorism have impacted on communities in Kaduna State in various ways, with hundreds of innocent lives lost and property worth millions of naira destroyed, including places of worship.

This is in addition to the huge humanitarian crisis created by thousands of internally displaced persons, whose means of livelihood were also disrupted by activities of criminal elements.