Two sisters have been kidnapped in northwest Nigeria, just days after a pastor and three other Christians were murdered by suspected Fulani militants. Twins Hassana and Hussaina Garba were abducted from their home which is located next to the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) worship building in Kwakware village.
According to Morning Star News, the kidnappers shot the girls' father, ECWA elder Ibrahim Garba, during the kidnapping - he is currently receiving hospital treatment. The whereabouts and wellbeing of the girls is unknown at this time.
Local resident Charles Yahaya told Morning Star: "Testimonies and exhibits at the crime scene show that the kidnappers were very organized, very informed on their target and heavily armed.
"This is one incident among many. It is the sustained and targeted kidnapping of Christian girls in northern Nigeria, after which they are forcefully converted to Islam and married off, thereby becoming sex slaves. Something is going on in our country that needs to be addressed systematically and collectively by all well-meaning citizens.”
Islamic Fulani herdsmen are suspected to be behind the abduction.
Another resident, Saminu Adamu, urged prayers for the sisters.
“It’s heart-breaking and becoming unbearable; Christian twin sisters were kidnapped at their residence,” he said. “Family of Christ, please pray for their safe release in the hand of their captors.”
The persecution of believers in northwest Nigeria has been ramping up in recent months. On 6 September, the Rev. Alubara Audu, a 45-year-old father of five, was shot dead in Kaduna state, along with Adamu Tata, 40, a father of four children and Ishaku Peter, a 37-year-old father of five.