Gunmen Kill Three and Abduct Catholic Priest in Northern Nigeria Kaduna, Nigeria, February 7/8, 2026
NAME: UKET ROSE JOHN
MATRIC NUMBER: 240912115
A violent predawn raid by armed gunmen in Kaduna State has left at least three people dead and a Catholic priest along with several others abducted, marking yet another grim chapter in the region’s ongoing security crisis.
Attack Details
The attack occurred in the Karku community of Kauru Local Government Area at approximately 3:20 a.m., when a group of suspected militants stormed the village. According to the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, the gunmen targeted the residence of Reverend Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Karku.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants opened fire on residents, killing at least three people before abducting Father Asuwaye and around 10 other villagers.
Bandits Abduct Catholic Priest, Several Others In Kauru LGA
Security and Casualties
Local police confirmed the assault, noting t
Community Impact
Residents described the attack as a coordinated invasion, leaving families shaken and villagers fearful for the safety of their loved ones still in captivity. Calls have begun for urgent action by security agencies to locate and free the captives.
A Broader Pattern of Violence
This latest abduction follows a series of similar incidents in northern Nigeria where clergy and civilians have been targeted, often in remote villages. Earlier in February, another 166 churchgoers kidnapped in a separate Kaduna raid were ultimately rescued, underscoring the unpredictability and human toll of such violence.
Human rights groups have condemned the ongoing attacks, saying that they are symptomatic of a deepening security crisis in the country’s northwest, one that has left rural populations increasingly vulnerable.
Religious Leaders Respond
Church leaders and community advocates have expressed profound sorrow over the attack and renewed their calls for enhanced protection for religious workers and rural communities. They urge authorities to prioritize the safe return of Father Asuwaye and other kidnapped villagers.
