Bandits Target Christians to Spark Division, CAN Alleges

Bandits Target Christians to Spark Division, CAN Alleges

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria has raised the alarm that armed bandits are deliberately targeting Christians to provoke anger and sow division in the country, following the recent mass abductions of worshippers in Kaduna State and other violent incidents.

Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Northern CAN Chairman, described the kidnapping of more than 160 churchgoers during Sunday services in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area, as part of a worrying trend of attacks that disproportionately affect Christian communities in northern Nigeria.

In the coordinated assaults, attackers stormed multiple churches during services, abducting scores of worshippers, with community leaders and police confirming the incidents after initial confusion and official denials.

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Hayab criticised security agencies for initially dismissing reports of the abductions, saying the delayed acknowledgment undermined public trust and hindered prompt responses. He stressed that these attacks are designed to trigger communal anger and weaken confidence in government protection.

In a related development, the Department of State Services (DSS) rescued two pastors and a church member abducted in a separate Kaduna attack earlier this month, a move CAN hailed as boosting confidence in coordinated security efforts.

Despite these interventions, insecurity remains widespread, with multiple attacks on churches and communities across northern and central Nigeria, often targeting worshippers in remote villages.

Civil society groups and international observers have pressured the Nigerian government to strengthen security measures, improve early-warning systems, and ensure rapid responses in vulnerable areas. Analysts warn that without decisive action, violence against religious communities could inflame tensions, erode trust in state protection, and fuel fears of targeted attacks across northern Nigeria.

Bandits Target Christians to Spark Division, CAN Alleges