KADUNA, Nigeria – The chilling wave of insecurity sweeping through Northern Nigeria reached a new low in the early hours of Saturday, March 7, 2026, as suspected terrorists stormed the Karku community in Kauru Local Government Area, abducting Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye and ten others in a violent operation that left three people dead.
The Midnight Assault
The attackers, described by local sources as “heavily armed bandits,” reportedly descended on the community at approximately 3:20 a.m., targeting the parish house of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The silence of the night was shattered by sustained gunfire as the invaders overwhelmed local vigilantes and residents.
By the time the smoke cleared, three individuals—identified by community leaders as Jacob Dan’azumi, Maitala Kaura, and Alhaji Kusari—lay dead. Some reports suggest the casualties included security operatives who attempted to repel the assault, though official police confirmation on the identities of the deceased remains pending.
Clergy Under Fire
The abduction of Fr. Asuwaye, the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity, marks yet another dark chapter for the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan. In a statement released shortly after the incident, the Diocese expressed “profound sadness” over the targeted attack, calling on the faithful to commence a period of intense prayer for the safe return of the priest and the ten other parishioners snatched alongside him.
This latest incident follows a harrowing pattern of attacks on the clergy in Kaduna State, including the high-profile kidnappings of Fr. Bobbo Paschal in late 2025 and the tragic murder of Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu exactly one year ago.
Security Forces on the Trail
The Kaduna State Police Command has reportedly deployed a special tactical team to the Kauru axis. A spokesperson for the command confirmed that a manhunt is underway, with security forces “combing the bushes” to track the kidnappers’ escape route toward the neighboring forest reserves.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure the victims are rescued unhurt,” the police statement read, though the captors have yet to establish contact or make a formal ransom demand.
A Region in Mourning
As news of the raid spread, the Karku community has been plunged into mourning. Residents describe a state of “total helplessness,” with many calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the rising cases of priest abductions, which many see as a deliberate attempt to demoralize the community and its spiritual leadership.
