Gunmen killed three individuals and kidnapped a Catholic priest along with 10 other people during a pre-dawn raid on the priest’s home in Karku, Kauru district, Kaduna State, Nigeria, on February 7, 2026.
The assault on Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, happened around 3:20 a.m. when armed attackers stormed his residence. The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the event, describing it as a terrorist incursion. A total of 11 people, including the priest, were abducted while security forces exchanged gunfire with the assailants.
Father Jacob Shanet of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan issued a statement on the incident, noting that two soldiers and one police officer lost their lives during the clash with the gunmen.
Pope Leo XIV denounced the ongoing violence in Nigeria. The pontiff called on national authorities “to work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of the life of every citizen.”
The situation in Kwara state has been especially deadly. At least 160 people were killed in attacks targeting the Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, where many victims were discovered with bound hands and slit throats.
Amnesty International strongly criticized the Nigerian government’s handling of the security crisis. The organization argued that the situation was “increasingly getting out of hand” and accused officials of “gross incompetence” in failing to protect civilians from gunmen who kill, abduct, and terrorize rural communities across northern states.
The ongoing violence has drawn international concern, including from President Donald Trump, who accused Nigeria of failing to safeguard its Christian population. In response to Trump’s remarks, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu sent a high-level delegation headed by national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in November 2025 to discuss security cooperation. As the situation worsened, U.S. forces conducted strikes on terrorist positions in Nigeria on December 25, targeting locations in the Bauni forest in Sokoto state.
Human rights organizations have documented the extent of the violence impacting Nigeria’s civilian population. Emeka Umeagbalasi of Intersociety, an organization that tracks violence nationwide, reported that 185,000 people have been killed since 2009. According to the group, 125,000 victims were Christians and 60,000 were moderate Muslims. Although international Catholic organizations often reference these statistics, some independent monitors dispute them due to difficulties verifying casualties in conflict zones.
Religious leaders have been heavily targeted in the unrest. Intersociety estimates that between 1,000 and 1,500 Christian leaders have been killed or kidnapped since 2009.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has expressed escalating concern over the ongoing bloodshed. Father Michael Banjo, secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, signed a statement warning that the country “cannot afford to normalize bloodshed.” The organization emphasized that despite years of appeals and unkept promises, violence continues unabated, leaving communities shattered and citizens tired of condolences that fail to offer real protection.
Nigeria’s security issues stem from numerous armed groups active across northern regions, including insurgents, kidnapping gangs, and militias attacking rural settlements. These groups often strike at night, overpowering local security personnel and carrying out mass abductions. Many captives are held for ransom, while others are murdered.
Despite deploying more military assets to troubled areas, President Tinubu has faced challenges in curbing the violence. The government continues to face criticism for its inability to prevent attacks or rapidly rescue kidnapped victims, raising concerns about the effectiveness and capability of Nigeria’s security forces.
The U.S. role in addressing Nigeria’s security problems marks a significant shift in cooperation between the two countries. American forces carried out the December strike on terrorist hideouts, a deployment that signals ongoing joint counterterrorism efforts.
The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan has requested prayers for Father Asuwaye and the 10 other abductees, as well as for the repose of those who were killed. The diocese entrusted their protection and release to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The kidnapping of Father Asuwaye is the latest in a growing pattern of attacks targeting Catholic clergy in Nigeria. Priests are increasingly being abducted as armed groups seek high-profile captives who may command large ransom payments.
As instability worsens, questions remain about whether current security measures will be sufficient to protect civilians and restore peace to affected regions. Joint operations between Nigerian and U.S. forces have yet to produce decisive improvements, leaving northern communities vulnerable to continued attacks carried out by armed groups operating with apparent impunity across multiple states.
