A brutal attack by suspected bandits in Kaduna State has left one pastor dead and approximately 20 worshippers missing, amplifying growing alarm over violent raids on religious communities in the region. The incident reportedly occurred during a church gathering when unidentified gunmen stormed the venue, opened fire and abducted congregants.
According to local-media accounts, the attack targeted a church in a rural Kaduna community early on Sunday morning. The assailants entered the premises, shot the pastor at close range and then forced dozens of worshippers into waiting vehicles or motorcycles. Witnesses said the gunmen spoke little before opening fire, then fled into the forested terrain surrounding the village.
The victims are still unaccounted for, and family members are anxiously awaiting contact from the abductors. While the state police command has not yet issued an official statement, the community leader described the attack as “calculated and ruthless” and called for urgent action to rescue the captives.
The incident echoes a string of similar attacks across Kaduna and neighbouring states, where religious services have become soft targets for armed groups seeking ransom or asserting control. Human rights groups warn the pattern underlines a deteriorating security environment for places of worship in Nigeria’s north-west.
