Kaduna: Terrorists kill three, kidnap Catholic priest, imam, others

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Fresh waves of violence hit Kaduna State on Saturday as suspected bandits abducted a Catholic priest and 11 other persons, while three residents were killed during an early morning attack on Karku community in Kauru Local Government Area of the state.

The Chief Imam of Janjala Central Mosque, Bello Abdullahi, and a Fulani community leader, Shehu Bello, were also abducted during attacks in Kagarko Local Government Area of the state.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan confirmed that the kidnapped priest, Nathaniel Asuwaye, is the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that Asuwaye was taken alongside 10 other villagers during the attack.

The incident, which occurred around 3:20am on Saturday, was described by residents as a coordinated invasion by heavily armed terrorists who stormed the community, shot sporadically and whisked their victims away.

The Chancellor of the Kafanchan Diocese, Jacob Shanet, announced the abduction in a statement on Saturday, calling on Christians and people of goodwill to pray for the victims.

“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. Punch