KADUNA, Nigeria — In the early hours of Saturday, 7 February 2026, suspected bandits launched a brutal pre-dawn assault on Karku community in Kauru Local Government Area, leaving at least three residents dead and abducting a Catholic priest and multiple villagers, escalating an already deepening security crisis in northern Nigeria.
According to the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, attackers stormed the community around 3:20 a.m., firing sporadically and forcing residents to flee in panic. The gunmen overran homes and seized Reverend Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, along with 10 other villagers during the coordinated incursion.
The deceased victims—identified locally as Jacob Dan’azumi, Maitala Kaura and Alhaji Kusari—were shot during the chaos that accompanied the raid.
In a statement, the Diocesan Chancellor, Very Reverend Father Jacob Shanet, expressed “profound sorrow” over the attack and appealed for prayers for the safe return of the priest and other captives, while also mourning the lives lost.
Security agencies have reportedly launched a manhunt for the assailants, with operatives deployed across the Kauru axis in an effort to prevent further violence. Kaduna State police are yet to publicly confirm details of the incident.
This latest abduction comes amid a broader pattern of mass kidnappings and violence in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna State. Just weeks earlier, authorities and Christian groups offered conflicting accounts over the fate of more than 170 worshippers abducted from multiple churches in January, while others have since been reported rescued or released.
Security experts and retired military officials warn that kidnapping and banditry continue to thrive in the North due to weak rural protection, porous borders, and the increasing sophistication of criminal gangs.
Religious and community leaders across Kaduna have renewed calls for enhanced protection for rural communities and faith leaders, as the surge in violence fuels fear and uncertainty among citizens.