Gunmen on Sunday invaded Haske Baptist Church, Manini in Chukun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing a worshiper and abducting five others.
The armed men in a large number reportedly invaded the church around 9:30am and started shooting sporadically.
The deceased worhipper was indentified as Dr. Zechariah Dogonyaro, a staff of the state Ministry of Health.
Also, a resident of the area, Sheu Mainika, was said to have been hit by a stray bullet and injured.
Giving an eye witness account, a worshiper, Jacob Bala, said: “Church service was going on when herdsmen just came and surrounded the church and started shooting.
“The came around 9.00am, in the course of the service. They were many and they were riding on motorcycles. They started shooting indiscriminately as we scampered for safety.
“My uncle, Dr. Zakariya Dogonyaro, was killed. He works with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health. They shot him and he died on the spot. They kidnapped five people, including my late brother’s wife, my stepmother, my elder brother’s daughter, and two other people.”
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described the attack as unfortunate, lamenting that the security situation in the state has continued to grow worse on a daily basis.
The association’s Secretary, Reverend Caleb Ma’aji, Secretary, in a statement, said they are saddened over the sorry state of the security situation in “our dear state Kaduna State.”
According to him: “It has grown so unfortunate and on a daily basis continues to grow worst with no appreciable resistance given the unholy terrorists who have continued to hold our dear state and nation to ransom.
“Today 25th April 2021, innocent worshipers who went out for nothing but to worship and pray to God were attacked, a medical doctor and one other person killed, many members injured and others taken into captivity.
“This is happening in a nation that her constitution allows freedom of religion yet this freedom is not guaranteed. CAN Kaduna State continue to wonder, what is the crime of innocent citizens, how comes the terrorist appear more free and protected than the citizens?
“This is a challenge to the government, indeed a government that is unable to guarantee the safety of its citizens and their properties will be best termed a failed government. Our hearts go to the local church at Manini, the Nigeria Baptist Convention, and family members of the deceased.
“We are appealing to relevant agencies and praying for the safe release of the abducted members and indeed all others in captivity. We also enjoined all men and women of Goodwill to continue to wake up and do the needful before we are all consumed by the ongoing evil of banditry and kidnapping that has hijacked our country especially Kaduna State.
“The Kaduna State government and the Federal Government should stop making noise about insecurity and simply act now before Nigerians will have no option than to turn to self-help.”
