By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) - Christians appealed for prayers as 60 Christians remained missing Friday after suspected Islamist gunmen killed one worshiper during a raid on a church in northern Nigeria.
The October 31 attack on the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kakau Daji village in Kaduna state was the latest in a series of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
Witnesses said the church members had gathered for worship when the attackers suddenly entered the building and opened fire.
An uncertain number of Christians were also injured in the attack, sources said. Upon fleeing the building, dozens were taken captive by the assailants, according to Christians.
In a statement, Reverend Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna division of the umbrella Christian Association of Nigeria, called it "another sad story," warning of more violence.
“Citizens are being killed like chickens with only press statements as consolation,” he added in published remarks distributed by the Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) advocacy group.
NIGERIANS CONCERNED
Nigerians have reportedly urged the government to declare those responsible for the recurrent attacks across the country as "terrorists."
However, government leaders rejected the appeal, saying that “there is a need to follow due process,” VOMC noted.
“Such inaction has led to calls for the authorities to ‘separate war against enemies of Nigerians from politics,’” VOMC added in an assessment.
The group asked its supporters to “pray that God will greatly comfort our Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ who are mourning the loss of their dear loved ones.”
It also urged prayers for the injured, protection for those kidnapped, and wisdom for authorities and the military to deal with the standoff and violence “plaguing the country.”
Thousands of people, many of them Christians, have been killed in violence linked to Islamist fighters.