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Tag: Christian Association of Nigeria

  • CAN Holds Special Prayer for 177 Abducted Worshippers in Kaduna

    CAN Holds Special Prayer for 177 Abducted Worshippers in Kaduna

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has held a special prayer session for the safe return of 177 worshippers abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali community.The prayer meeting took place on Sunday at Tawaliu Baptist Church, Maraban Kajuru, drawing Christian leaders from across Kaduna State and parts of northern Nigeria. Families of the abducted worshippers were also in attendance.

    The victims, members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, were abducted during Sunday services after armed men reportedly invaded Kurmin Wali and led congregants into nearby forests. CAN officials said some worshippers later escaped, while many remain in captivity.

    Addressing the gathering, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of CAN for the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, urged churches to improve surveillance and basic security measures around worship centres. He said prayer should be complemented with vigilance and situational awareness to reduce security risks. Hayab described insecurity in Kajuru as persistent and called for collective efforts to protect worshippers and communities.

    The CAN Chairman in Kajuru LGA, Rev. Enoch Kaura, said the prayer session was aimed at seeking divine intervention and urging authorities to strengthen security operations in the area. He called on government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those abducted and prevent further incidents. The event was attended by the Kaduna State CAN Chairman, Rev. Caleb Bawa Ma’aji, bishops, and clergy from various denominations.

  • Northern CAN Distributes Relief Materials to 1,000 Banditry Victims’ Households in Kaduna

    Northern CAN Distributes Relief Materials to 1,000 Banditry Victims’ Households in Kaduna

    By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory has commenced the distribution of relief materials to victims of banditry and other vulnerable groups, beginning with Kaduna State.The initiative, led by the Northern CAN Chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, started on Wednesday at Daraja Baptist Church, Maraban Rido community, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. It targets 1,000 households affected by violent attacks, displacement, and economic hardship.According to Rev. Hayab, the intervention focuses on internally displaced persons (IDPs), widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities in Chikun and Kajuru local government areas. The programme is largely supported by the Barnabas Aid Foundation.

    Speaking to journalists at the venue, Rev. Hayab said the relief exercise would be extended to other violence-affected states, including Borno, Plateau, Benue, and parts of Ondo State, particularly Owo.He explained that beneficiaries in Kaduna received nine essential food items, including bags of rice, beans, maize, garri, groundnut oil, palm oil, sugar, seasoning cubes, and salt.“This support from the Barnabas Aid Foundation is to help our people who are victims of violent attacks and those living with disabilities,” Rev. Hayab said. “We selected two local government areas and identified 1,000 households to receive these nine relief items.”

    He noted that although the distribution directly covers 1,000 households in Kaduna, the programme is supporting about 5,000 households across Nigeria when extended to other states.Rev. Hayab said the gesture was intended to bring relief and encouragement to affected families, particularly during the Christmas season, adding that the initiative combines spiritual, emotional, and physical support.“We prayed before starting this exercise to let the people know that someone cares and is thinking about them,” he said. “This is our way of standing with them in their pain and challenges.”He stressed that CAN’s responsibility goes beyond advocacy, noting that hunger and displacement remain pressing issues for victims of violence in the region.“You cannot only tell people not to kill them when they are hungry,” he said. “We are combining spiritual care with physical and social support to reassure our people that they are not alone.”

    Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of Northern CAN and FCT, Rev. Dr. Jonah Samson, said the association organised the relief distribution in response to growing insecurity and humanitarian needs across northern Nigeria.He said beneficiaries included people displaced from their homes, victims of persecution, widows, orphans, and persons living with disabilities. Rev. Samson thanked the Barnabas Aid Foundation for its support, praying for the continued success of its humanitarian efforts.Many beneficiaries expressed excitement as they received the relief materials, though some were unable to speak to journalists due to the crowd and the volume of items collected during the distribution. Northern CAN officials said similar outreach programmes would continue in other affected communities as part of efforts to alleviate the humanitarian impact of violence across the region.