ECWA Laments Kidnap, Killing Of 807 Members In 6 Years

Chairman, ECWA Kasuwan Magani District Church Council (DCC) Rev. Timothy Maigida has lamented the kidnap and killing of 807 of his members through banditry and communal crisis in the last six years in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State.

This is even as he disclosed that over 70 of its members are still being held captive by the bandits who are demanding unimaginable ransom.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the ECWA chairman said plans has been concluded to hold what he called sober reflection service in honour of the departed souls and those still in captivity and to also solicit funds to help those who have been rendered homeless.

The cleric called on the state government and security agencies to beef up security in the area so as to stem the tide of rising insecurity in the local government.

He said “In 2016 when the terrorism and kidnapping for ransom started, 38 people were abducted in all.  Eight of the victims were killed and the remaining were released after the payment of ransom and In 2017, the number of people killed was 35.

“In 2018, a crisis erupted in Kasuwan Magani market on October 18, 2018. That single incident claimed the lives of 286 identified locals that went to the market that day.

That was apart from those from outside the local government that were not identified. The following day, the late Agom Adara, HRH (Dr.) Maiwada Raphael Galadima was ambushed, abducted and later murdered.

“In 2019, we lost our church members to armed bandits. Let me skip and bring you to the current year 2022. We have suffered and still suffering both the kidnapping and killing of our people monthly.

“It is in view of all these devastations that we as a church and people have endured, that we have decided to hold a sober reflection service and bring in people within and outside Kaduna that would help us to rebuild our homes, churches and communities.”