NIGERIA: Priest among abducted, and Christian killed as extremists terrorise community

A Catholic priest has been kidnapped and the brother of another cleric killed in north Nigeria.

Armed assailants attacked the residence of Father Bobbo Paschal, parish priest of the St Stephen Parish, in Ksuhe Gugdu, Kagarko in the early hours of this morning (Monday 17th November).

During the attack the brother of Father Anthony Yero was killed and others were kidnapped.

Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) received the news from contacts in Kaduna Archdiocese, who reported there were no other fatalities at this time.

Church authorities are urgently calling on people to join in prayer for the safety and swift release of Fr Bobbo Paschal and all those abducted, and for the repose of the deceased.

Nigeria was placed in the “persecution” category of ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World report 2025, Nigeria “under persecution”, indicating that it faces severe, systematic and ongoing religious freedom violations.

Armed extremist organisations – such as Islamic State-West Africa Province (ISWAP) – continue to operate in the north-east.

In the Middle Belt, attacks by militant members of the Fulani herder community have included the torching of churches and killing of worshippers.

On 31st October 2025, the United States government announced the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.

This decision follows mounting reports of escalating violence and the Nigerian government’s continued inability to safeguard minorities, particularly Christian communities, from targeted attacks.