The United Church of Christ in Nigeria (UCCN), also known as HEKAN, has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of one of its pastors and the abduction of about 20 worshippers during an attack on a church in Kaduna State.The tragic incident reportedly occurred on Sunday when armed bandits stormed the church premises in the early hours, disrupting a worship service and opening fire on congregants.
The pastor, whose identity was yet to be released at press time, was shot dead while trying to protect members of the church.Eyewitnesses said the attackers whisked away at least 20 worshippers into the nearby forest, leaving the community in panic and mourning.In a statement issued on Monday, the UCCN leadership condemned the attack and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted members and bring the perpetrators to justice.“We are deeply pained by the murder of our pastor and the abduction of our members.
This is another sad reminder of the deteriorating security situation in our country. We urge the government to act decisively to protect innocent citizens,” the statement read.Residents of the affected community have appealed for increased military presence, saying repeated attacks have made life unbearable in the area.As of the time of filing this report, security operatives were said to have launched a manhunt for the assailants, while families of the victims continue to wait anxiously for news of their loved ones.