Over 30 people, including a catechist and his pregnant wife, were kidnapped in Kaduna Kagarko LGA amid escalating insecurity in Nigeria.
Newsroom (13/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) The Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kaduna Archdiocese, Nigeria, has confirmed that a parish catechist, his heavily pregnant wife, and more than 30 other residents were abducted during a violent raid on February 9.
In an interview with Arise Television, Fr. Linus Matthew Bobai detailed the midnight assault on Kutaho and Kugir communities in Aribi Ward of Kagarko Local Government Area, describing a night of terror that left the area effectively deserted.
“Bandits abducted our Catechist, his pregnant wife, and 32 others,” said Fr. Bobai, confirming the incident occurred at around 2 a.m. on Monday. “The community is under tension. Over 98 percent of people have gone to a nearby village. Those of us who slept in the village yesterday are not up to 40.”
According to him, the attack sparked mass displacement, with only a handful of residents remaining behind. “We are handicapped. The community is under tension,” he said, explaining that fear had driven nearly all inhabitants to seek refuge elsewhere. “Some of us are afraid, but we cannot run away because we are pastors. We have encouraged a few others to stay behind and look after the community.”
The assault followed a series of threats and ransom demands that had circulated through the area over recent weeks. Fr. Bobai confirmed that the bandits carried out their threats despite earlier warnings for residents to remain alert. He was reportedly in Kaduna city at the time, procuring textbooks for St. Joseph School, when the coordinated assault began.
Local reports indicate that banditry has become a persistent scourge in parts of Kaduna State, forcing residents to repeatedly call for sustained security presence and proactive patrols. Villagers say that appeals to authorities for consistent protection have gone largely unanswered.
The latest abductions add to a grim tally of incidents that have plagued Kaduna in recent months. On January 20, the UK-based human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) urged Nigerian authorities to secure the release of 167 worshippers kidnapped in coordinated attacks on three churches in Kajuru Local Government Area.
CSW noted that attacks against the Adara people of Kajuru have persisted since 2018, when their traditional ruler, HRH Dr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, was abducted and murdered by armed Fulani men despite ransom payments.
Earlier in January, a pattern of similar crimes unfolded. On January 11, more than 20 villagers were seized from the same area, later released after ransom payments amounting to approximately 7 million Naira (US$4,932). On January 2, Rev. Philip Adamu and three others were abducted from Ungwan Danladi village in Kajuru by men who spoke Fulfude, the Fulani language commonly associated with nomadic pastoralists.
CSW officials have repeatedly described these incidents as a failure of government responsibility. They warn that recurring abductions and ransom demands have not only deepened insecurity but also driven already vulnerable communities into extreme poverty and displacement.
Rising violence in northern Nigeria, much of it targeting Christian and farming communities, has drawn international attention. The U.S. government under President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom, a status reflecting the scale and persistence of such attacks.
For the people of Kutaho and Kugir, however, such designations bring little immediate comfort. As Fr. Bobai and the remaining few faithful continue to hold ground, fear and uncertainty dominate daily life. “We are very tense,” he said. “We are here because some people must stay behind and give hope.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Africa
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