Insecurity escalates as bandits kill three, abduct Catholic priest in Kaduna

Bandits have killed three people and abducted a Catholic priest and several others during an early morning attack on a cleric’s residence in Kauru LGA of Kaduna State, according to church and police sources.

The attack occurred on Saturday at about 3:20 a.m., the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan said in a statement.

The diocese identified the abducted priest as Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku.

The church said 10 other people were abducted during the assault. Police authorities, however, said five people were abducted and that the three victims killed were security personnel.

A police spokesperson said security agents engaged the attackers in a gun battle during the incident.

“Security agents exchanged gunfire with the bandits, killed some of them, and unfortunately two soldiers and a police officer lost their lives,” the spokesperson said.

The incident came days after security forces rescued 166 worshippers abducted from two churches in separate attacks in other parts of Kaduna.

The continued attacks have renewed concerns over insecurity in northern Nigeria.

Amnesty International said Nigeria’s security situation was “increasingly getting out of hand”.

The rights group accused the government of “gross incompetence” and failure to protect civilians as gunmen continue to kill and abduct residents across northern states.