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The primate of The Church of the Lord Worldwide said over 1,000 children were still in captivity, since 2014 when the militant group Boko Haram, abducted 279 girls from a government school in Chibok. Since the incident, which sparked global outrage and galvanized the world around the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, groups have kidnapped over 2,000 children, according to the primate.
“As Christians, we believe in the efficacy of prayers and fasting,” said Ositelu, ahead of the “Nationwide Solidarity Prayer Day for Children in Captivity.”
The primate said this is not the first time kidnapping or abductions of children are occurring in Nigeria, but the situation was getting worse, with the crimes becoming a quick moneymaking industry.
“That is why we decided to double our efforts by organising nationwide prayers for the release of the abducted children; protection of God over them; and the arrest of the perpetrators of these criminal actions,” he said.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation with over 250 ethnic groups. Its over 240 million population is split nearly equally between Christians and Muslims. Most Muslims live in the north, while most Christians reside in the south. Both faiths intermingle in the middle.
But the West African nation is gripped by a deadly insecurity crisis that is affecting members of both faiths. In the northwest, criminal gangs are causing mayhem, while Islamist extremists are executing a deadly insurgency in the northeast. Frequent clashes over land between farmers and herders are causing death and displacement in the north-central and northwest regions while separatists are stepping up in the southeast. Recently, bandits have spread to the southwest region.
Since 2019, over 40,000 people have died in the violence that has displaced over two million. Millions of children are out of school, as the insecurity shuts down the institutions, especially in the north.
According to the patriarch, among other reasons, by kidnapping the children, the militants are aiming at raising funds through ransom for the purchase of arms. They are also using the children as hostages in an attempt to force the government to release their leaders from custody. Also, some are being forced to convert to Islam, while the girls and women are being turned into wives of the militants under Sharia (Islamic law).
On a flyer calling for prayers, Ositelu urged children to gather in their respective main adult church auditoriums, join hands together and pray for God’s intervention for the immediate release of all others in the dens of Boko Haram and other bandits in Nigeria.
The children were also asked to pray for God’s continued protection over themselves, their parents, the church of God and the nation of Nigeria. During the prayers, the parents were asked to stretch their hands and pray over their children.
“We believe and know that God answers prayers. We therefore expect that the security situation in Nigeria, and especially as it affects our children, will get better and the peace of God will reign in Nigeria by the special grace of God in Jesus name,” said Ositelu.
