CAN claims they paid ransom to free abducted worshippers

CAN reportedly pay ransom to kidnappers to free Baptish Church worshippers

Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has stated that the organization paid a ransom to secure the release of members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kakau Daji, Kaduna State, from their kidnappers.

On Friday evening, nine additional captives were released with the worshippers.

The victims were 66 in total when they were kidnapped at Sunday church on October 31, 2021, but three of them were killed by their abductors.

“We thank the traditional rulers and stakeholders in ensuring the release of the victims,” he said, adding that the abductees had to pay a ransom before they were released.

“We are calling on Christians and Nigerians to be prayerful against the insecurity that has brought untold hardships to the people,” he said.

The worshippers, as well as nine other victims, have been reunited with their families.

According to Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, who presided over the reunion at the Albarka Baptist Church, Gwari Avenue, Barnawa, Kaduna, said the state was informed of the victims’ release by the military.

The military, according to Aruwan, conducted a thorough medical examination of the rescued worshippers having spent 35days in the bandit’s den, as well as other victims kidnapped along the Kaduna-Kachia road.

He remained silent on whether the victims’ families paid the criminals’ N99 million ransom.