Gunmen killed three people and abducted a Catholic priest along with 10 others during an early morning attack on the clergyman’s residence in Karku, Kauru district, Kaduna state, Nigeria, on February 7, 2026.
The attack on Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, occurred at approximately 3:20 a.m. when armed assailants invaded his residence. The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the incident, describing it as an invasion by terrorists. A total of 11 people were abducted including the priest, while security forces exchanged gunfire with the attackers during the assault.
Father Jacob Shanet of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan released a statement addressing the attack. Two soldiers and one police officer were killed during the confrontation with the gunmen. Some attackers were killed during the exchange of gunfire with security forces.
Pope Leo XIV condemned the violence in Nigeria. The pontiff called on authorities “to work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of the life of every citizen.”
The attack in Kaduna state comes amid escalating violence across northern Nigeria. In January, 166 worshippers were abducted from two churches in Kaduna, though all were subsequently rescued. More recently, on February 3, over 200 people were killed in terrorist attacks targeting villages in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states.
The violence in Kwara state proved particularly devastating. At least 160 people were killed in the state in attacks that targeted the Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, where victims were found with their hands bound and their throats slit.
Rights organization Amnesty International issued a sharp critique of the Nigerian government’s response to the security crisis. The organization stated that Nigeria’s security crisis was “increasingly getting out of hand” and accused the government of “gross incompetence” in protecting civilians from gunmen who kill, abduct and terrorize rural communities across northern states.
The persistent violence has drawn international attention, particularly from President Donald Trump, who has accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians in the country. In response to the deteriorating security situation, U.S. forces struck terrorist targets in Nigeria on December 25, targeting locations in the Bauni forest of Sokoto state.
Following Trump’s criticism, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-level delegation led by national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss security cooperation between the two nations.
The scale of violence affecting Nigeria’s civilian population has been documented by human rights organizations. Emeka Umeagbalasi, whose organization Intersociety tracks violence in Nigeria, provided statistics indicating that 185,000 people have been killed in the country since 2009. Of those victims, 125,000 were Christians and 60,000 were moderate Muslims.
Religious leaders have been particularly targeted in the ongoing violence. According to Intersociety’s data, between 1,000 and 1,500 Christian leaders have either been killed or abducted since 2009.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has voiced growing alarm over the continuing bloodshed. Father Michael Banjo signed a statement warning that the country “cannot afford to normalize bloodshed.” The organization noted that after years of repeated complaints and unfulfilled promises, violence persists unchecked, leaving communities devastated and citizens weary of empty condolences that do not guarantee their safety.
Nigeria’s security crisis involves multiple armed groups operating across the northern regions of the country. The violence stems from a complex mix of insurgents, armed gangs conducting kidnappings for ransom, and militia groups carrying out attacks on rural communities. These armed groups, which previously concentrated their activities in regions farther north, have increasingly expanded their operations southward as military pressure and territorial competition among factions has intensified.
The pattern of attacks typically involves heavily armed groups descending on villages during nighttime hours, overwhelming local security forces, and conducting mass abductions while killing those who resist. Many victims are held for ransom, while others are killed. The attacks have created a climate of fear across multiple states in northern Nigeria, with rural communities particularly vulnerable to assault.
President Tinubu has struggled to contain the violence despite deploying additional military resources to affected regions. The government has faced criticism for its inability to prevent attacks or quickly rescue abducted victims, leading to questions about the capacity and effectiveness of Nigerian security forces.
The U.S. involvement in Nigeria’s security situation represents a significant development in bilateral relations. American forces launched the December strike against terrorist enclaves. The deployment signals ongoing cooperation between the two nations on counterterrorism operations.
The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan has called for prayers for Father Asuwaye and the other 10 abducted individuals, as well as for the repose of the souls of those killed in the attack. The diocese entrusted the victims to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their speedy and safe release.
The attack on Father Asuwaye represents the latest in a series of incidents targeting Catholic clergy in Nigeria. The abduction of priests has become an increasingly common occurrence as armed groups seek high-profile hostages who may command substantial ransoms.
As the security situation continues to deteriorate, questions persist about whether current strategies will prove effective in protecting civilians and restoring stability to Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions. The collaboration between Nigerian and American forces has not yet produced the decisive results needed to reverse the escalating violence, leaving communities across northern Nigeria vulnerable to continued attacks by armed groups operating with apparent impunity across multiple states.