Manny Ita –
Gunmen attacked the Karku community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the early hours of today, raiding the residence of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church at about 3:20 a.m., residents and local sources said.
The attackers reportedly met resistance from security personnel deployed in the area, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. During the confrontation, three security operatives—two soldiers and one police officer—were killed while attempting to repel the assailants, according to accounts from the community.
In the course of the raid, the gunmen abducted the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, along with 10 villagers. The victims were said to have been taken into the surrounding forest, a pattern consistent with previous abductions in the area.
The incident drew international attention later in the day. Speaking from St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, calling on Nigerian authorities to act with “determination” to protect citizens and prevent further attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued an official statement on the incident, while efforts were said to be underway to track the attackers and secure the release of those abducted.o
