By Desire Emmanuel
A prayer summit group based in Southern Kaduna has urged worship centres to defend themselves against any attacks from terrorists, bandits and other marauders,
The 24th edition of the Southern Kaduna Prayer Summit which was held on Saturday, January 31, asked churches and mosques to defend themselves against attacks.
The summit is convened every year by the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) and this year’s edition came a few weeks after 177 worshippers were abducted from three churches in Kajuru, one of the towns in Southern Kaduna on January 18.
Speaking at the event in Kafanchan, Apostle Emmanuel Kure, SKCLA Chairman, explained that worship centres were sacred places that must be protected.
According to him, churches must complement the government’s efforts by putting robust security measures in place to safeguard their premises.
“We must take immediate steps and not create an environment for this kind of thing to reoccur. We are calling upon all churches and mosques alike to rise up and do the needful to secure their places of worship.
“The youths organisations in our worship centres must come together to protect these churches so that we can prevent what happened in Kajuru,” he added.
Kure called on the government to intensify efforts to secure the quick release of the abducted Kajuru worshippers.
He tasked the Southern Kaduna elites on the need to establish industries that would provide employment to the teeming youths in the area.
In his goodwill message, Daniel Amos, the member representing Jema’a and Sanga Federal Constituency, described Southern Kaduna as a rich land with immense potential.
Amos urged Christians and religious leaders in Southern Kaduna to deepen their prayers for Nigeria’s peace, stability and development, especially as the country approaches another election year.
Highlights of the occasion were ministration of songs, prayers for the land as well as the inauguration of the new executives of SKCLA.
