Barely six months after armed bandits invaded three churches in Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state and abducted over 170 worshippers, the Northern Christian Association (NCA), with support from the Fountain of Life Church, Lagos, has donated and commissioned a borehole to provide residents with access to clean and safe drinking water.
The intervention has brought renewed hope to the agrarian community which came into national and international focus following the mass abduction that underscored the growing security challenges confronting rural communities in northern Nigeria. Blueprint reports
Although the abducted worshippers were later rescued and reunited with their families, the incident left deep emotional, social and economic scars on the community, with many families still struggling to rebuild their lives.
Beyond the security challenges, the attack also exposed the acute shortage of basic amenities in the area, particularly access to potable water, healthcare facilities and good roads.
NCA responds to community’s plight
Commissioning the borehole on Saturday, chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said the intervention was a demonstration of practical love and solidarity with a community that had endured pain and neglect.
Hayab recalled that when officials of the association first visited the community in the aftermath of the abduction, they discovered that residents lacked access to clean water, a development that further compounded their suffering.
“We are here because our brothers and sisters in Kurmin Wali were attacked some months ago and many worshippers in three churches were taken away. Though they were later rescued and returned home, we noticed that there were no basic amenities for the people to enjoy.
“As we continued to draw attention to their plight, brethren from the Fountain of Life Church in Lagos, through their Senior Pastor, Rev. Jimmy Odukoya, reached out and offered to help. When the community informed us that one of their greatest needs was access to water, we immediately swung into action,” he said.
According to him, the newly commissioned borehole will provide relief to hundreds of residents, especially women and children who previously had to travel long distances in search of water.
Turning sorrow into hope
Hayab said the latest intervention was another proof that compassion and practical support can help communities recover from traumatic experiences.
“The last time we came here, it was a period of sorrow and tears. There was pain everywhere and people were still trying to recover from what happened. But today, the story is different. The women are smiling because they now have a source of water for cooking, bathing and other domestic activities.
“This is what practical love means. It is not enough to sympathise with people in distress; we must also take steps to address their immediate needs and restore hope to them,” he added.
The NCA chairman disclosed that the association has continued to provide support to victims of violence and insecurity across northern Nigeria through scholarships for children, skills acquisition programmes for women and assistance to widows and orphans.
He, however, noted that the humanitarian needs in many rural communities remain enormous and called on well-meaning Nigerians, faith-based organisations and development partners to support interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable persons.
“The needs are enormous and cannot be addressed by one organisation alone. With the little resources available to us, we are touching lives in different communities and restoring hope to communities and people in distress,” he said.
NCA urges government to fulfil promises
Hayab also used the occasion to call on the Kaduna state government to fulfil promises made to the community in the aftermath of the mass abduction.
According to him, government officials had visited the community and promised to provide critical infrastructure and other interventions, but residents are yet to benefit from such commitments.
“This is a wake-up call. If promises are made to people who are already in pain, such promises should be fulfilled. We know that government has many responsibilities and challenges, but we believe the promises made to this community can still be fulfilled.
“We are appealing to the governor and the relevant ministries to revisit this community and deliver on the commitments that were made to the people,” he said.
CAN commends intervention
Speaking at the event, Kaduna state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Caleb Ma’aji, commended the Northern Christian Association and its partners for extending humanitarian interventions to communities affected by insecurity across northern Nigeria.
He described the donation of the borehole as a life-changing intervention, noting that access to clean water remains one of the greatest challenges confronting many rural communities in the country.
“Whoever gives water gives life. What the NCA and Fountain of Life Church have done today is not just the provision of a borehole; they have restored hope and dignity to this community. We pray that God will continue to bless the donors and replenish their resources,” he said.
Traditional ruler seeks more government support
Also speaking, the Village Head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, expressed gratitude to the NCA and Fountain of Life Church for remembering the community in its moment of need.
He said despite the trauma suffered by residents following the mass abduction, the community has continued to struggle without basic infrastructure and social amenities.
“When the incident happened, the government promised us a hospital, a military base and road construction, but till now we have not seen any of them. We know that the government has many responsibilities, but we are still appealing for assistance because of our peculiar situation,” the traditional ruler said.
He appealed to both the state and federal governments to come to the aid of the community by fulfilling their promises and providing the much-needed infrastructure that would improve the living conditions of residents.
For the people of Kurmin Wali, the newly commissioned borehole represents more than a source of clean water. It is a symbol of hope and reassurance that despite the tragedy they endured, they have not been forgotten and that compassion and collective support can help communities begin the long journey of healing and recovery from the scars of insecurity.