Nigerian Patriarch leads prayers for children in captivity

Nigerian Patriarch leads prayers for children in captivity

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…