No fewer than 10 churches have been forced to shut down in Katsina State due to escalating insecurity, a senior cleric has revealed.
Reverend Daniel Barau, a senior priest in charge of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the state, said relentless killings, kidnappings, and bandit attacks have driven residents and worshippers away, leading to the closure of the churches.
Barau said communities in Kankia, Musawa, Kankara, and Malumfashi Local Government Areas have been repeatedly hit by bandits, with attacks now spreading to the Funtua zone.
“As I am talking to you, there is hardly a day that bandits do not attack a community — either in the morning, afternoon, or at night.
“They kidnap people, rape women, steal valuable items, and kill anyone who crosses their path,” Barau said.
The cleric also alleged that the bandits have imposed heavy levies on residents and farmers, demanding payments of up to N30 million before people are allowed to farm or harvest their crops.
Rev. Barau appealed to the federal and state governments, as well as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to intervene urgently.
“We are pleading for urgent attention and support from the federal and state governments, including CAN, to assist us by providing adequate security presence and food intervention for victims affected by these attacks,” he said.