A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ibrahim Amos, has been abducted by suspected bandits in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The incident occurred on Thursday at his residence in Saint Gerald’s Quasi Parish, located in the Kurmin Risga community.
While police authorities in Kaduna are yet to confirm the abduction, the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Jacob Shanet, confirmed the incident in a statement issued the same day. Describing the development as “deeply saddening,” Shanet called for prayers for the priest’s safe return.
“We are deploying every legitimate and available means to ensure that Father Amos returns unharmed and in good health,” Shanet stated. He also urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The abduction comes less than two months after another Catholic priest from the same diocese, Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, was kidnapped and later killed by his captors in Kaura Local Government Area.
Kaduna State has been plagued by banditry and kidnapping in recent years, particularly in rural areas where government presence and security infrastructure remain limited. Armed groups operating from forest hideouts across Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states have been responsible for numerous raids, school kidnappings, and attacks on both civilians and security personnel.
In one such attack in January, 21 government militia members were ambushed and killed in Katsina State while returning from a condolence visit. To bolster local security, Katsina State established the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC) in 2023, comprising around 2,000 militia members to support police and military operations.
