A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Amos, has been abducted by suspected bandits in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, adding to the growing list of clergy targeted in the region.
The incident occurred on Thursday at the priest’s residence within Saint Gerald’s Quasi Parish in the Kurmin Risga community.
While the Kaduna State police command has not yet issued a statement, the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan has confirmed the development.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Jacob Shanet, expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
He described the abduction as “a deeply saddening one,” noting that it marks yet another blow to the Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, which has suffered previous attacks.
Shanet also urged the faithful and the wider public to pray for the safe return of Father Amos.
“We call for prayers for the safe return of the abducted priest,” he said, adding that people should “remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.”
He assured that “every legitimate and available means will be deployed to ensure that the abducted priest returns unharmed and in good health.”
This latest abduction comes less than two months after another priest from the same diocese, Revd. Fr. Slyvester Okechukwu, was kidnapped and later killed in Kaura Local Government Area.
Kaduna, like other parts of Nigeria’s northwest and central regions, has been plagued by armed gangs — commonly referred to as bandits — who regularly raid communities, abduct residents, and carry out deadly attacks.
These groups often operate from vast forest areas that stretch across several states, including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger.
Over time, they have become increasingly notorious for carrying out mass abductions, including attacks on schools.
In a related development, January saw 21 local militia members ambushed and killed by bandits in Katsina State while they were returning from a condolence visit in the Safana district.
To bolster security efforts, Katsina State last year launched the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC), a local militia force comprising about 2,000 members tasked with supporting police and military operations against the bandits.
