The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria in Adamawa State has been thrown into a deep mourning with the abduction of two of its pastors by suspected kidnappers on Sunday.
The Church, popularly known as Ekklesiyar Ya’Uwa A Nigeria (EYN), has congregations across the North-East region, with its headquarters in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The abducted pastors, Rev. James Kwayang and Rev. Ishaku Chiwar, were serving at the Local Council Church (LCC) branch in Mbila-Malibu, Fufore Local Government Area, where they were abducted around 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Spokesman for the Adamawa State Police Command, Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the incident and stated that personnel have been deployed to track the gunmen and rescue the clerics.
This sad development comes on the heels of the killing of a priest, Chukwujekwu Okonkwo, by kidnappers in Anambra State on Boxing Day, throwing the Catholic community into mourning
The cleric was shot dead on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in one of the security breaches recorded across the country during the Christmas holidays.
Seventy-five-year-old retired Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese also in the state, Most Rev Godwin Okpala, remains in kidnappers’ den two weeks after his abduction.
A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, was also abducted on Tuesday night on Ugwunapampa Road in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
There is no information yet about his fate.
Security personnel are said to still be searching for him.
However, the police said yesterday that they arrested 23 suspects across the country for armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping and stalking of fun seekers.
