By Mohammad Ibrahim and Iliya Kure
Kaduna (Nigeria) — The President of United Church of Christ in Nigeria, Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau, and two other church members have been abducted monday morning by unknown gunmen in Kaduna, North West Nigeria.
The three men were kidnapped at the Church crusade ground along the Kaduna-Abuja highway while clearing the ground for a forthcoming crusade.
Other church members ran away to escape the abduction.
General Secretary of the church Reverend Jibrailu Wobiya, who was among the escapees confirmed the abduction, saying the suspected kidnappers are demanding N100 million ransom before they would release the captives.
He added that him and few others were lucky to have escaped into the bush while the three men were whisked way by the gunmen.
Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State branch, Reverend George Dodo also confirmed the incident and called on security agencies to do all they could to unmask the perpetrators of the crime.
“Government should put in motion all its security apparatus to ensure the liberation of those abducted,” he said.
The gunmen who were said to have wore masks before storming the crusade ground and abducted the men.
Spokesman of the Northern States CAN, Rev. Josesph Hayab has condemned the abduction of the cleric and two members of his church, calling on the kidnappers to release the three men unconditionally or be prepared to incur the wrath of God.
Hayab, also called on security agencies to move into action and free the abductees from captivity.
Kaduna Police command spokesperson DSP Zubairu Abubakar couldn’t be reached for comments.
Cases of kidnappings is increasing in Kaduna State, just past few days some staff of a health facility were kidnapped – reports say they were released after payment of ransom; two ladies among them were said to be raped.
Similarly a mother of a newborn was kidnapped – the family was said to have paid a million Naira ransom before she was released.
A CAN Chairman in one of the LGAs told AFRICA PRIME NEWS “I am scared of moving around. In fact, I had to cancel all the programmes I planned for the Easter.”
“The security situation is too bad, cases of kidnappings are just rising. They are happening in Lere LGA in Chikun LGA, in Zaria – the worst situation is what is happening in Birnin Gwari, where on daily basis people are attacked. They will just come to a house and move people to bush and demand ransom before they are released.”
