Suspected bandits have killed three people and abducted a Catholic priest alongside 10 other residents during an early-morning attack on Karku community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The victims were taken around 3:20 a.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026, when heavily armed assailants stormed the community, firing sporadically and forcing residents from their homes, according to local sources.
Among those abducted is Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku. The Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Rev. Fr. Jacob Shanet, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.
“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, with deep sorrow, we announce the kidnapping of our priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State,” Shanet said, calling on Christians and people of goodwill to pray for the victims.
He added that the priest was abducted alongside 10 other residents during the attack, which claimed the lives of three people.
The deceased were identified as Jacob Dan’azumi, Maitala Kaura and Alhaji Kusari. The diocese said the attackers invaded the priest’s residence and nearby homes, leaving the community in shock and fear.
Security agencies had yet to issue an official statement at the time of filing this report.
