KEY POINTS

• Reverend Father Ibrahim Amos of the Kafanchan Diocese was abducted from his residence in Kaduna State by suspected bandits on April 24.

• The incident follows the recent killing of another Catholic priest in the same diocese and highlights a surge in clergy-targeted kidnappings.

• Security remains fragile across northwestern Nigeria, where criminal gangs continue to exploit weak state presence to carry out abductions and attacks.

In a troubling continuation of insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest, Reverend Father Ibrahim Amos, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Kafanchan, was abducted on Thursday by suspected bandits in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The kidnapping occurred at the residence of Amos located within Saint Gerald’s Quasi Parish in Kurmin Risga community.

The abduction of Amos has not yet been officially confirmed by the Kaduna State Police Command, but was verified by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Jacob Shanet, in a statement issued later that day.

“It is with great sorrow that we confirm the abduction of our brother, Reverend Father Ibrahim Amos,” Shanet stated. “This latest act of violence against the clergy in our diocese is deeply saddening and disheartening.”

Shanet urged the public to remain calm and avoid any retaliatory actions. “We call upon all people of goodwill to join us in prayer for his safe return. Every legitimate and available effort will be made to ensure he comes back to us unharmed and in good health,” he added.

Reverend Father Ibrahim Amos kidnapped in Kauru

This incident is the latest in a string of attacks targeting clergy and Christian communities in southern Kaduna and other parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt. It comes just under two months after another priest from the same diocese, Reverend Father Slyvester Okechukwu, was abducted and later killed in Kaura Local Government Area, also in Kaduna.

These abductions form part of a larger pattern of violence orchestrated by armed groups widely referred to as “bandits.” These criminal gangs operate with alarming freedom across vast forested areas in states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger.

Channelstv reports that the groups are notorious for targeting schools, villages, religious figures, and travelers in remote areas where government authority and security presence remain weak or nonexistent.

Kaduna, in particular, has become a hotspot for violent crimes, with recurring incidents of mass kidnappings, attacks on rural communities, and highway ambushes. The region’s vulnerability has been exacerbated by limited infrastructure and slow government response, leaving residents at the mercy of heavily armed gangs.

The rise in clergy abductions has sparked outrage and concern among Christian communities and human rights organizations. Religious leaders across Nigeria have repeatedly called on the federal government to implement stronger security measures to protect vulnerable populations, especially in areas where pastoral work exposes clergy to danger.

In January, a violent ambush by bandits in neighboring Katsina State resulted in the deaths of 21 government-aligned militia members who were returning from a condolence visit. The incident highlighted the growing capacity of these groups to confront even armed security operatives.

To combat this crisis, Katsina State established the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC), a civilian militia force working alongside the military and police. However, similar initiatives have not yet been replicated at scale in Kaduna, where banditry continues to escalate.

Back in Kauru, fear and uncertainty have gripped the local Christian community. Parishioners of Saint Gerald’s Quasi Parish have gathered in prayer vigils, hoping for Father Amos’ safe release, even as frustration mounts over the deteriorating security situation in their region.

As of now, there has been no public ransom demand or contact from the abductors. The diocese, working with local security and community networks, is said to be exploring all channels for a peaceful resolution.