Three people were killed and a Catholic priest, along with several others, abducted during an early morning attack on a clergyman’s residence in Kauru district, northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state.
The priest, identified as Nathaniel Asuwaye of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Karku, was taken along with at least 10 other individuals.
The attack occurred around 3:20 a.m. and involved armed exchanges between security forces and the assailants, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and a police officer. The incident follows recent abductions of 166 worshippers in other Kaduna churches, highlighting the persistent insecurity in the region.
The situation has drawn international attention, with U.S. authorities criticizing Nigeria’s government for failing to protect Christian communities, a claim denied by Abuja. Amnesty International described the security crisis as increasingly out of control, citing government failures to safeguard civilians in rural areas.
The Catholic Church and global figures, including Pope Leo, have expressed solidarity with the victims, while Nigerian authorities continue investigations into the attack.
