Terrorists Kidnap Catholic Priest, Kill One in Kaduna Attack

Suspected terrorists launched a violent attack on Monday morning, kidnapping a Catholic Priest and murdering another individual in the Kushe Gugbu community of the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The incident represents another grim chapter in the ongoing security crisis plaguing parts of Nigeria’s Northwest region.

The victim of the abduction was identified as Rev Fr Bobbo Paschal, the Parish Priest of St. Stephen Parish. The criminals attacked the area and seized the priest directly from his residence in the early hours of Monday.

The tragic incident was officially confirmed by the Archdiocese of Kaduna in a statement issued and made available to reporters by the Chancellor, Rev Fr Christian Okewu Emmanuel. The statement also confirmed a fatality during the assault: a brother to another priest, Rev Fr Anthony Yero, was tragically murdered by the terrorists during the course of the attack. Furthermore, Fr. Okewu disclosed that the assailants abducted “several other persons” from the area, whisking them away to unknown locations alongside the parish priest.

This latest attack comes amid intense international claims and debate regarding the nature of violence in Nigeria. The incident will undoubtedly feed into the narrative of religious persecution. Although the Nigerian government has consistently dismissed the claim, characterizing the widespread insecurity as largely criminal and non-sectarian, prominent figures in the United States, including President Donald Trump and several US lawmakers, have continued to insist that Christians are being targeted and persecuted by Islamic extremists in what they term an alleged “Christian genocide.” The kidnapping of a high-profile religious leader, alongside the murder of a civilian, lends tragic weight to the ongoing international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security challenges.