In Nigeria’s northwest state of Kaduna, Christians are bearing the brunt of insecurity and violence, as bandits attack homes, villages and churches, killing Christians and kidnapping others for ransom.

At the centre of the communal violence is religious persecution, territorial ambition and ethnic cleansing in the region where communities have settled along religious lines, according to the Rev John Joseph Hayab, the country director for the Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria.

“They are killing my people. They are burning down my churches,” says Hayab, who is also the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria.

“I cannot be satisfied in Kaduna state, when mostly pastors are major victims of kidnapping. I cannot be satisfied when I have lost pastors, and I have witnessed students, pastors or pastors’ wives kidnapped, raped, and ransom collected in millions,” he adds.

The cleric explains that bandits have been demanding ransom from church leaders through the general mobile phone networks. The leaders have been turning to the congregations to help raise the ransom money, although it is not guaranteed that when the ransom is paid the victim will turn up alive, according to Hayab.

Christianity is one of the main two religions in Kaduna State. However, in the capital, Kaduna City, there is a demographic divide, with Christians residing in the south and Muslims in the north.

In rural southern areas of the state, people are agrarian, and live mainly from farming and agricultural activities. It is the Christian areas that are experiencing the highest level of bandit attacks. (WCC )