Christian Leaders Abducted In Kaduna

The source at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja has confirmed that some church leaders in the Kaduna state were kidnapped.

Reports say that the abductors are demanding N100m for their freedom.

Those kidnapped include the national president of HEKAN Church, Reverend Emmanuel Dziggau and his assistant, Anthony Iliya. Pastor Yakubu Dzarma was also kidnapped on March 21, in an area called Dutse, on the outskirts of Kaduna town.

According to the source, Dziggau is the leader of ECWA/TEKAN block of CAN, and a very close ally of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the National President of CAN.

Pastor Oritsejafor reportedly summoned an emergency meeting of all church leaders in the country for March 24 in Abuja.

The anti-kidnapping security operatives have been transported to Kaduna to help in rescuing the pastors.

Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai has recently stirred the controversy with a desire to implement an executive bill designed to restrict all forms of religious preaching in the state. Christians have come against the Religious Regulation Bill. This is at variance with Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution which presupposes that every Nigerian  has a right or freedom of thought, conscience and religion and  a right to change  religion.

I advise the abductors in their own interest to release 'them' within the next 48hours, or their wives will become widows and their children will become orphans. Their generation risks being wiped off.