By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ABUJA (Worthy News) - The “traumatic ordeal” of some 40 worshippers kidnapped from a church in Nigeria’s Kaduna State ended with the release of the remaining 16 captives, but elsewhere more than 20 Christians were killed, Christians confirmed Wednesday.
The June 4 release came nearly a month after Islamist militants had abducted Christians attending a service in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) on Sunday 7, according to Christians with ties to the church.
Other Christians in the group had either escaped or been freed in the weeks following the abductions, confirmed Christian charity Barnabas Aid.
In remarks shared with Worthy News, Pastor John Joseph Hayab, head of the Kaduna branch of the umbrella group Christian Association of Nigeria, “thanked the Muslim community” in the area “for their practical help” after the kidnappings.
Pastor Hayab said he was praying that “the two religious communities will work together to bring this painful era of kidnapping, violence, and killings to an end.”
“Sadly, the continual anti-Christian violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt shows no sign of ceasing.
PASTOR KILLED
In neighboring Plateau State, suspected Fulani militants killed 21 people,” noted Barnabas Aid.
Among those killed was a pastor, Nichodemus Kim – in attacks on Christian communities on the evening of Sunday, June 11, said Christians familiar with the case.
“Twenty died in simultaneous raids on various villages in Riyom LGA, while Pastor Kim was shot dead at his home in nearby Barkin Ladi LGA at around 8 pm that night,” added Barnabas Aid.
“Residents expressed concern that security forces had not intervened even though the communities in Riyom LGA had experienced several attacks in the preceding two weeks.
Hundreds of Christians have been killed in northern and Middle Belt Nigeria so far this year,” the group said.
Barnabas Aid said it had urged supporters to continue to pray for suffering Christians in Nigeria.