← News feed Pan-Orthodox

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.

Image

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 →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (10) 🌐 Show original

Андрей Смирнов

As the archbishop said: “prayer with fasting works” - in Tula we also have prayer services for children, as in Volokolamsk for Donbass. Thank you for not forgetting about us, brothers and sisters.

Დ

დავით ბერიძე

I heard about Chibok students. If we can, we should pray in their names to make it more sufficient.

Lukas Weber

In our church we often pray for kidnapped children, especially after the Chibok case that was all over the news at the time. Over 1,000 children still in captivity, that's terrible. The reference to prayer and fasting is good – it really helps more than you think.

Митко Ангеловски

Yes, over 1000 children are still in captivity since 2014. In our parish, we often mention them at liturgy, especially after Chibok. Prayer and fasting are the only things that really hold.

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.

Ს

სალომე დოლიძე

Good point, David. I still don't know the names of many of the Chibok girls, but I can look up some specific names and read them together. Do you have a list?

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

Yes, the Chibok case shocked us all back then. We have also interceded for these children several times in our church choir. Praying and fasting is truly the most powerful thing we can do – I often do this quietly at home in the garden.

Yes, the Chibok case was a shock that lasted for a long time. In our community we have also prayed for the girls several times, and I think it is good that the Patriarch is now calling for fasting again. Do you actually fast on certain days or just as it suits you?

Christina Müller

Yes, the Chibok case really woke us all up, Stefan. In our choir we also prayed regularly for the girls back then, and I think it's good that you fast quietly in the garden - at least you have peace and quiet there. Do you prefer certain foods or just eat less?