The Christian Association of Nigeria, on Monday, raised the alarm that no fewer than 40 worshippers were kidnapped on Sunday at Bege Baptist Church, Madala, Chikun Local Gvernment Area of Kaduna State.

The CAN chairman in Kaduna State,Rev. John  Hayab, who spoke to newsmen on Monday, said the incident happened at about 9.30am when the worshippers were in the service in the church, which is along Buruku Baringi Road.

Hayab said, “The worshippers were in the Sunday service in the church when around 9:30am they heard gunshots very close to the church. The gunmen attacked the church and went away with 40 worshippers.”

The CAN chairman said 15 of the kidnapped congregants managed to escape while the bandits went away with the remaining 25.

“Along the way, somehow, 15 of the kidnapped persons returned, remaining the rest 25 who are presently in captivity without any word from their abductors,” Hayab lamented.

“Efforts are being made to get in touch with the abductors concerning the remaining people; we pray that the abductors would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families,” the cleric said.Also, some terrorists on Sunday reportedly  invaded the palace of Emir of Kagarko in Southern Kaduna, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, kindaping nine of his children.

The incident, according to a resident, took place around 11.30pm on Sunday, when the hoodlums stormed the town and headed straight for the monarch’s palace.

The resident told journalists  on the telephone that the  terrorists “took away his (the emir’s) youngest wife, nine children and grandchildren but the wife escaped and returned home.”

He added that the attackers  also took three other persons including “a lady and injured one Audu Kwakulu of Ungwan Pah who is now in the hospital receiving treatment.”

There was no official confirmation of the two incidents either from the state government or the state police command.

The state police command’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, did not respond to a call and text message by our correspondent.