No fewer than 40 worshippers at the Bege Baptist Church, Madala on Buruku Baringi road in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been abducted by bandits.
NIGERIACRIME learnt that the victims were whisked away during service on Sunday.
The incident was confirmed on Monday by the chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, Rev. John Hayab.
According to the CAN chairman, the bandits carried out the attack at about 9:30 am.
He said, “The worshippers were in the Sunday service in the Church when around 9:30 am they heard gunshots very close to the Church. The gunmen attacked the Church and went away with 40 worshippers,” he said.
He, however, added that 15 of the abducted worshippers escaped, leaving behind 25 others who were at present in the kidnappers’ den.
“Along the way, somehow 15 of the kidnapped persons returned remaining the rest 25 who are presently in captivity without any word from their abductors.”
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Furthermore, the cleric stated that they have put in effort to contact the abductors on the remaining 25 victims.
According to Hayab, “Efforts are being made to get in contact with the abductors concerning the remaining people and prayed that the abductors would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families.”
There was no official confirmation either from the state government or the state police command.
The state police command’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, had yet to respond to a call or text message by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a 56-year-old former boxer, Moses Olapade, reportedly beat his wife, Tinuke, to a coma while the couple were arguing over a television remote.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at their residence located at Oke-Aro Community in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
A source, who spoke anonymously said Olopade returned home, from a journey on the fateful day and wanted to watch a programme on the television but the failure of his wife to give him the remote to tune in to his preferred channel caused the argument and later free-for-all.
Olopade, who is also a truck driver, out of anger, reportedly rained punches on the wife and consequently, the latter fell down and became unconscious.
The source said it was the screaming of the children that attracted the neighbours to the scene. They quickly rushed the victim to a nearby hospital, where she was resuscitated.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, however, said she was yet to be briefed on the matter.