Kaduna Attack: Terrorists Kill Three, Abduct Catholic Priest, Imam, Others

Kaduna Attack: Terrorists Kill Three, Abduct Catholic Priest, Imam, Others

Suspected terrorists have abducted a Catholic priest, an imam, and at least 11 other residents, while three people were killed during coordinated attacks on several communities in Kauru and Kagarko Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

The most deadly attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Karku community in Kauru LGA, where gunmen stormed the village around 3:20am, shooting sporadically and abducting residents after killing three people.

Among those kidnapped is Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku, whose abduction was confirmed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan. The priest was taken alongside 10 other villagers, according to church authorities.

The Chancellor of the Kafanchan Diocese, Rev. Jacob Shanet, announced the abduction in a statement, describing the incident as heartbreaking and calling on Christians and people of goodwill to pray for the victims.

“With deep sorrow, we announce the kidnapping of our priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State,” Shanet said.

He added that the attack resulted in the killing of three residents, identified as Jacob Dan’azumi, Maitala Kaura, and Alhaji Kusari, noting that the assailants raided the priest’s residence and neighbouring homes before fleeing.

READ ALSO:

• Over 400,000 Companies Face Delisting as CAC Cleans Up Records
• World Cup 2026: FIFA to Distribute 100,000 Footballs to 500 U.S. Cities
• Shettima Condemns Kwara Killings, Says Attacks Violate Right to Worship

“This terrible event has resulted in the killing of three people, aside from those abducted,” Shanet lamented.

In a related incident in Kagarko LGA, the attackers also abducted the Chief Imam of Janjala Central Mosque, Bello Abdullahi, and a Fulani community leader, Shehu Bello, during separate night raids on multiple villages.

Community sources said the gunmen invaded Iddo, Gidan-Makeri, Kohoto, and Janjala, abducting residents, rustling cattle, and forcing villagers to flee their homes. The most recent raid reportedly occurred around 9pm on Tuesday, with the attackers heavily armed with AK-47 rifles.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers specifically targeted the homes of the imam and the Fulani leader.

“They went straight to the house of the chief imam and took him away. From there, they moved to the house of the Fulani leader. That was when people started running for their lives,” the source said.

Following the attacks, panic spread across the area, with many families fleeing to Kagarko town and Sabon-Wuse, while others reportedly spent the night in the bush for fear of further assaults.

Security sources at the Kaduna State Police Command confirmed the attacks, disclosing that a joint team of police and military personnel engaged the attackers in gun battles in the Kauru axis.

“We believe the bandits have not left the area. With God’s help, we are hopeful they will be apprehended,” a police source said.

The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Hayab, condemned the attack, describing it as another grim reminder of the worsening security crisis in Kaduna and the wider North-West region.

“The kidnapping of Christian priests and innocent citizens is becoming unbearable despite all efforts to curb this evil,” Hayab said.

Residents also revealed that the latest attacks occurred days after the gunmen allegedly issued a seven-day ultimatum, demanding a ₦6 million ransom for a previously kidnapped woman and her four children — a deadline that reportedly expired without security intervention.

The series of attacks has once again heightened fears over terrorism, banditry, and mass kidnappings in Kaduna State, with community leaders calling for sustained military operations, improved intelligence gathering, and stronger protection for vulnerable rural communities.

Kaduna Attack: Terrorists Kill Three, Abduct Catholic Priest, Imam, Others