Again, gunmen attack Kaduna Catholic, Baptist Churches kill 4, abduct 44 worshippers

Four worshippers were  killed and 44 others abducted by terrorists on Sunday in an attack on two churches in Rubu community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State..

Daily Champion gathered that the gunmen  attacked worshipers at St. Moses Catholic Church and Maranatha Baptist Church in the community on during worship service.

During the separate incidents, three faithful were said to have been killed in the attack on Catholic Church while 30 people were abducted at Maranatha Babtist Church.

Most of those abducted are said to be women and children while those who sustained injuries were said to have been taken to the St. Gerald Catholic Hospital, Kaduna, for treatment.

President  of the Adara Development Association (ADA), Awemi Maisamari, who confirmed the killings added  that one person was killed while 14 others were abducted in a similar attack on Saturday at Mararaban Kajuru, also in Kajuru LGA.

He said, many people were still missing in the attacks on the churches.

“The village head of Rubu informed me of the attacks on churches in this community today. From information made available, three people were killed while 30 others were abducted. Some people were injured, some are still missing as I speak with you.

“On Saturday, one person was killed, while 14 others were abducted in Mararaban Kajuru which we thought was a safe place”, he said.

Meanwhile, Kaduma state government has also confirmed the incident, saying three people were killed while unspecified number of people were abducted.

In a statement on Sunday, Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said the bandits attacked three communities, looted shops and carted away some valuables from the villages.

“On a sad note, security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government that bandits attacked worshippers and locals at Ungwan Fada, Ungwan Turawa and Ungwan Makama in Rubu general area of Kajuru local government area.

“According to the report, the bandits stormed the villages on motorcycles, beginning from Ungwan Fada, and moving into Ungwan Turawa, before Ungwan Makama and then Rubu”, Aruwan said

He said, “In Rubu village, the bandits attacked worshippers in the Maranatha Baptist Church and St. Moses Catholic Church.”

The statement said three locals, identified as Peter Madaki (Ward head of Ungwan Fada), Elisha Ezekiel (Resident of Ungwan Fada) and Ali Zamani (Youth leader of Rubu) were killed in the attacks.

Aruwan added that, two persons were left injured in the attacks: one Aniro Mai, and a yet-unidentified woman.

He said, “An unspecified number of locals were also kidnapped, according to the received reports.

“The bandits looted shops and carted away some valuables from the villages.”

The statement said the Acting governor of Kaduna state, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, expressed deep sadness, and condemned the attacks in the strongest terms and sent her sincere condolences to the families of the deceased victims, as she prayed for the repose of their souls.

The commissioner said the the Acting Governor also commiserated with the attacked churches, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

“Security patrols are being conducted in the general area as investigations proceeed.

Citizens will be briefed on emerging developments”, he added.

The attacks came exactly two weeks after terrorists massacred over 40 worshippers at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The invaders are yet to be apprehended. No fewer than 22 of the deceased were given mass burial on June 15. Over 70 faithful were injured in that attack.

Meanwhile, devotees of the controversial Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday, took to the streets of Umuchigbo in Enugu metropolis to protest the ban on the Adoration Ministry headed by the priest.

The Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most. Rev. Callistus Onaga, on Saturday banned all priests and Catholic faithful from attending Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry following the priest’s criticisms of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

Mbaka had  on Wednesday at his Adoration grounds said Obi would never be the President because he is a stingy man, stressing that the politician is cursed.

The priest’s remarks drew negative criticisms from various quarters, forcing  the under fire priest to backtrack and apologise for maligning Obi and injuring his supporters.

But despite his apology, Bishop Onaga prohibited the Catholic faithful from attending his Adoration until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.

Bishop Onaga explained that the decision was based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry were not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church

However, less than 24 hours after the ban on Mbaka’s Adoration, his followers gathered on Sunday morning at the Adoration ground and started a massive protest against Bishop Onaga.

The protesters, who chanted songs condemned the Bishop with unprintable names.

The latest action of Mbaka’s devotees is yet another chapter in the battle of wits between Mbaka and the Catholic hierarchy in Enugu that have been blamed for being too soft on him despite his many transgressions that have brought the Catholic Church into disrepute.

To curtail Mbaka’s excesses, the Catholic Church in June 2021 banned him from commenting on partisan politics. The ban came after the controversy surrounding his disappearance and appearance last year, which also led to the shutdown of his Adoration Ministry.

Bishop Onaga, who handed down the ban also announced the conversion of the Adoration Ministry to a ‘chaplaincy.’

The implication being that the ministry was supposed to be under the supervision of the diocese. Sadly, Mbaka had always acted above the Canon Law.

 

 

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