Gunmen Kill Three, Abduct Catholic Priest in Northern Nigeria

Gunmen killed at least three people and abducted a Catholic priest during a pre-dawn raid on a village in Kaduna State, underscoring Nigeria’s worsening security crisis in the north.

The attack occurred around 3:00 a.m. local time on Saturday in Kauru Local Government Area, where heavily armed assailants stormed homes and the residence of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku. Church officials confirmed that Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye was among those abducted. Police said five people were taken, while church sources put the number as high as eleven.

Local authorities reported that security forces confronted the attackers, triggering a gun battle. In addition to the three civilians killed, security officials said casualties were also recorded among responding forces.

The Kaduna State Police Command said operations were underway to rescue those kidnapped and pursue the perpetrators. A senior police official told reporters that reinforcements had been deployed to prevent further attacks in the area.

Northern Nigeria has faced a surge in kidnappings and village raids blamed largely on criminal gangs known locally as bandits, who frequently target rural communities, travelers, and religious figures for ransom.

Why it matters now:

The abduction of a serving Catholic priest highlights growing risks to religious communities and raises renewed pressure on federal and state authorities to curb escalating rural violence.

Published on Chatzyr.net

Written By Editorial Desk | Team Chatzyr