‎CAN to FG, state: Beef up security at worship places in Niger

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger state chapter has called for more security presence at places of worship especially during Fridays Jumu’at prayers and Sundays services.

Chairman of the CAN in Niger state, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, made the disclosure in a homily on Sunday at the St. Michael Catholic Cathedral Church, Kontagora.

While condemning the recent abduction of unspecified number of worshippers from mosques in Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana in Borgu local government area of Niger state during Jumu’at prayers on Friday, August 21, 2026, the Chairman urged government and security agencies to deploy more personnel to worship centres to avoid reoccurrences as witnessed in the past.

He said, “the whole of Borgu Emirate which include Agwara and Borgu LGAs need strong and permanent security presence so that those in the rural communities can live without fear of being abducted”.

According to him, “for us, an attack on any place of worship, irrespective of religion, is an attack on the sanctity of places of worship and a threat to the wider community. And as a Body, we express solidarity with the victims and their families and share in the grief of the affected Muslim communities”.

He explained that millions of Christians and all the churches across the state have intensified prayers for the safe returns of the abducted worshippers in Borgu local government area.

“As a Body, we have set aside today (Sunday) to call on all Nigerlites, Christians and churches across Niger State to use this Sunday service to cry to God and to pray specifically for the safe return of the abductees and for God to help our security agencies”, he said, adding that we are praying and we believe God has heard and answered our prayers already.