Kaduna: Catholic church confirms abduction of priest, others in fresh attack

*Community protests over 18 displaced villages amid school closure

BY GABRIEL ACHADU & TOSIN ADAMS

Kauru LGA of Kaduna felt the heat of terror yesterday as gunmen suspected to be bandits kidnapped a Catholic priest and several other individuals, and killed three security operatives during rescue efforts in Ningi village, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction of Reverend Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Karku community.

Although the police authorities have yet to officially confirm the incident, locals reported that the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, at about 3:20 a.m., when armed men stormed the priest’s residence.

Church authorities stated that the priest was taken along with several other individuals during the raid.

Meanwhile, three security operatives, who were among the troops deployed to rescue the victims, were ambushed and killed by the bandits.

In a statement, the Diocesan Chancellor, Very Reverend Father Jacob Shanet, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a tragic moment for both the church and the local community. He also confirmed the deaths of the three security operatives.

Meanwhile, inhabitants of Kaso, a predominantly Gbagyi sub-urban community located in Chikun LGA of Kaduna South have protested displacement of their 18 villages and closure of 13 primary and post primary schools, across the community due to armed bandits’ activities.

The displaced victims of the 18 villages bordering Rido, Maraban Rido, Rijana forest, kakau Abuja road, Kujama, Buda, Gyengere and Tantatu in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna State, also raised an alarm of renewed security threats to farmers in the community’s parts of Kaduna metropolitan.

In a protest Press Briefing Saturday, in Maraban Rido, leader of Kaso Youth Forum Kaduna, Hon. Prince Obadiah Baba Kasoiza, in company of the displaced senior village head and other victims, said they were compelled to address media owing to constant attacks on their community by armed bandits, and to call on the attention of Governor Uba Sani on the true picture and situation of insecurity in the entire Kaso community.

Prince Kasoiza however said that there was relative peace and calmness in Kaso community on assumption of office of Governor Sani in 2023, with many farmers retuning back to their settlements, and economic activities began to gain some revivals until last year November 2025, when the banditry activities revived in the area.

The community youth leader, Kasoiza lamented that “Within this period of three months, from November 2025 till date, lives have been lost, almost 30 motorcycles have been snatched by bandits.

“In December last year only, over 50 persons were kidnapped, millions of naira alongside motorcycles were given and paid for ransom before their release.

“Also, in the month of January to this first week of February 2026, many were kidnapped, some have been released after payment of ransom, while many are still under the captivity of the bandits hitherto.

“As it stands now, as a community, our confidence in government who supposed to protect lives and properties of it’s citizens is demoralized. Our hope of participating in the agricultural activities in the next coming raining season is uncertain”, h said.

The youth leader lamented that Kaso community began to experience the incessant and relentless attacks by armed bandits in the entire area about 10 years ago, under the immediate past administration of Mal. Nasir El-rufai.

He said many lives have been lost, properties destroyed during this period of time, as houses, Churches and Mosque were also destroyed due to forceful displacements of the inhabitants by the armed bandits.

“Hundreds of motorcycles have been snatched by the armed bandits, hundreds of motorcycles have been purchased and given to bandits for ransom. Millions of naira have been paid for ransom of our beloved ones.

“Due to constant attacks on KASO community by armed bandits, we deemed it fit to call on the attention of His Excellency the Governor of Kaduna State Mal. Uba Sani to the true picture and situation of insecurity in the entire Kaso community.

“It has been 10 years now since Kaso community began to experience incessant and relentless attacks by armed bandits in the entire area. Kaso community is located in Chikun local government of Kaduna State Nigeria.

“Being part of Kaduna metropolitan city, Kaso on the west bordered with Kakau, on the North side, it bordered with Rido, Maraban Rido and Kujama. On the eastern side, it bordered with Buda, Gyengere and Tantatu in Kajuru local government. While on south it bordered with Rijana forest”, he said.

He also stated that 25% of the people living in Maraban Rido Kadansa currently are refugees from Kaso, “While 20% of people living in Kujama today are refugees from Kaso who are willing to go back to their ancestral land.

“As a result of these incessant attacks on the entire area by armed bandits, socio-economic activities in the area have totally been incapacitated.

“Educational activities in the area have been halted and also, there is no more any primary health care center that is still functioning in the entire area since the beginning of these relentless attacks by the armed bandits from 2016 till date.

They called on Governor Uba Sani, to as a matter of urgency, establish military strike force at Kurmin Kaso in order to curtail banditry activities in the area, requested that the 3 major roads into the area be constructed for easy access, in order to revive the socio-economic activities in the area and also, to minimize insecurity.