Suspected Fulani Islamists abducted nine Christians, including six schoolchildren, after ambushing an open truck in Kachia Local Government Area (LGA), southern Kaduna State in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on Sunday 26 April.
Another child died while attempting to escape.
The vehicle was transporting the children on their return to school after the academic break when the attack occurred. Christian families from Akwando village had hired the truck to transport 25 children to Kachia town, where they were attending secondary schools.
Less than ten minutes into the 18-mile journey the assailants forced the vehicle to stop.
In the ensuing chaos, 15 children jumped from the vehicle and escaped by trekking for hours to the nearest communities but six were taken captive, along with the truck driver and two other adults.
Manasseh Samuel, Publicity Secretary of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association, based in Kachia, condemned the attack, saying, “This senseless act of violence against innocent travellers, particularly students, is deeply troubling and unacceptable.”
The statement named those abducted, including six schoolchildren: Augustina Muntari, Happy Muntari, Favour Tanimu, Patience Joseph, Peace Irimiya and Bishara Irimiya. The driver, Irimiya Galadima, was also kidnapped, along with accompanying adults Fatu Danladi and Laraba Caleb.
The girl who died was named as Purity Babangida.
Kachia LGA was the scene of two abductions of Christians earlier in April. Two men were killed and seven abducted when Islamist gunmen descended on Awon on 20 April. On Easter Sunday, 5 April, Islamists attacked worship services at two churches in Ariko, killing seven worshippers were killed and kidnapping another 31 Christians.
How you can pray
Cry out to the Lord for the safe return of all those abducted, especially the six schoolchildren. Ask that they will know God’s presence even amid the horrors of captivity. Pray for Purity’s family to be comforted and know His enduring peace even as they grieve. Ask for a wall of protection around the Christian community of Kachia LGA as they struggle with the vulnerability of being targeted so regularly, and the release of all Christians captured across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
