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Nigerian Patriarch leads prayers for children in captivity

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

msc

Fri, 07/03/2026 - 14:51

On 7 June, Nigerian Patriarch, His Holiness Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, who is also the World Council of Churches president from Africa, led prayers for the release and protection of children in captivity in his country, where abduction and kidnapping of civilians are surging.

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Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

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…

Source: World Council of Churches · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (10) 🌐 Translate comments

Андрей Смирнов

Как говорил архиепископ: "молитва с постом действует" — в Туле у нас тоже молебны за детей, как в Волоколамске для Донбасса. Спасибо, что не забываете про нас, братья и сестры.

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დავით ბერიძე

Chibok-ის მოსწავლეების შესახებ გავიგე. თუ შეგვიძლია, მათი სახელებით მოლიტვა გავაკეთოთ, რათა უფრო საკმარისი გახდეს.

Lukas Weber

Bei uns in der Gemeinde beten wir auch oft für entführte Kinder, besonders nach dem Chibok-Fall, der damals durch alle Nachrichten ging. Über 1000 Kinder noch in Gefangenschaft, das ist schrecklich. Der Hinweis auf Gebet und Fasten ist gut – das hilft wirklich mehr, als man denkt.

Митко Ангеловски

Да, над 1000 деца се уште во заробеништво од 2014. Кај нас во парохијата често ги спомнуваме на литургија, особено по Чибок. Молитвата и постот се единственото што вистински држи.

Mark Wilson

Yeah, over a thousand kids still held since the Chibok school grab in 2014 is heartbreaking. Our parish here in San Francisco adds the names we know to the litany each week too. Prayer and fasting really do cut through when nothing else seems to.

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სალომე დოლიძე

კარგი აზრია, დავით. Chibok-ის გოგონებიდან ბევრის სახელი ჯერ კიდევ არ ვიცი, მაგრამ შემიძლია რამდენიმე კონკრეტული სახელი მოვძებნო და ერთად წავიკითხოთ. შენ გაქვს რამე სია?

Helen Campbell

Yeah, the Chibok girls still missing after all these years really sticks with you. We’ve been adding a couple of the named ones to our litany here in Boston too, especially during the weekday Vespers. Does your parish keep a running list or just the ones that make the news?

Stefan Hoffmann

Ja, der Chibok-Fall hat uns damals alle aufgerüttelt. In unserem Kirchenchor haben wir auch mehrmals Fürbitten für diese Kinder eingelegt. Beten und Fasten ist wirklich das Stärkste, was wir tun können – ich mache das oft still zu Hause im Garten.

Ja, der Chibok-Fall war ein Schock, der lange nachgewirkt hat. Bei uns in der Gemeinde haben wir auch mehrmals für die Mädchen gebetet, und ich finde es gut, dass der Patriarch jetzt wieder zum Fasten aufruft. Machst du das Fasten eigentlich mit bestimmten Tagen oder einfach, wie es passt?

Christina Müller

Ja, der Chibok-Fall hat uns wirklich alle wachgerüttelt, Stefan. Bei uns im Chor haben wir damals auch regelmäßig für die Mädchen gebetet, und ich finde es gut, dass du das Fasten still im Garten machst – da hat man wenigstens Ruhe. Machst du es eher mit bestimmten Speisen oder einfach nur mit weniger essen?