Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Abuja, Nigeria — A Baptist Church pastor and his three daughters have been abducted by suspected terrorists in Southern Kaduna, deepening fears over the deteriorating security situation in the region and renewing calls for urgent government intervention to halt the surge in violent attacks across northern Nigeria.
The victims, identified as Pastor Daniel Bagama of the Baptist Church, were kidnapped late on Sunday night in Tudun Bussa village, located in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Reports from the community indicate that armed men stormed the village at about 11 p.m., firing sporadically to create panic before proceeding directly to the pastor’s residence, where they seized him and his daughters and whisked them away to an undisclosed location.
The abduction was confirmed by the President of the Kaduna Baptist Conference, Reverend Ishaya Adamu Jangado, in a letter addressed to the Christian Association of Nigeria. In the communication, Reverend Jangado described the incident as a painful reminder of the growing vulnerability of religious leaders and rural communities to violent criminal groups operating with apparent impunity.
Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Caleb Ma’aji Bawa, also confirmed the kidnapping, describing it as deeply troubling and reflective of the persistent insecurity confronting Christian communities in Southern Kaduna. He appealed to security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the victims and restore confidence among residents who now live in fear of further attacks.
The incident comes amid a wave of kidnappings and violent assaults in Kaduna State. Only days earlier, bandits reportedly abducted 177 Christian worshippers in Kurmin Wali community, while another attack occurred in Kajuru Local Government Area where four individuals were kidnapped along the Maro–Kajuru road. According to community sources, the victims were intercepted while returning from Maro Market and forcibly dragged into nearby bushland by armed men.
Residents of Kajuru and surrounding communities say the frequency of attacks has created a climate of fear, with many avoiding travel at night or abandoning farming activities essential for their livelihoods. Community members lament that despite repeated appeals, security presence along vulnerable routes remains inadequate, allowing armed groups to operate freely.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Kaduna State Police Command proved unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report. The silence has further heightened anxiety among residents, who are calling for clearer communication and decisive action from security authorities.
Beyond Kaduna State, insecurity continues to spread across neighbouring regions. In Katsina State, residents of Southern Maska in Funtua Local Government Area have raised fresh alarms over persistent bandit attacks despite several peace agreements reportedly brokered between local government stakeholders and armed groups. Community members say the agreements have failed to translate into lasting peace, as attacks, kidnappings and extortion continue unabated.
Villagers across the Southern Maska axis report living in constant fear, with armed groups imposing levies known locally as haraji, issuing threats and carrying out coordinated assaults on settlements. According to residents, the bandits have grown increasingly bold, even calling villagers directly on mobile phones to demand payments or threaten reprisals for non-compliance.
Local sources revealed that repeated attacks have led to loss of lives, destruction of property and mass displacement, as families flee to safer areas to escape violence. Just days ago, gunmen attempted to invade Unguwar Mailaya but were reportedly repelled by residents. However, the attackers later moved to Kauran Fawa in Dandume Local Government Area, where they allegedly killed eight people, further underscoring the fluid and unpredictable nature of the threat.
Residents attribute the worsening situation to inadequate security deployment across rural communities, noting that the absence of visible patrols emboldens armed groups to operate openly. Many say the ability of bandits to communicate directly with villagers highlights serious gaps in surveillance and intelligence.
Security analysts warn that the continued spread of banditry across Kaduna, Katsina and neighbouring states reflects a broader failure to address the root causes of rural insecurity, including poverty, weak local governance and limited state presence in remote areas. They caution that without sustained security operations combined with community-based intelligence and social interventions, the violence may continue to escalate.
For families in Tudun Bussa and other affected communities, the immediate concern remains the safe return of abducted loved ones. Residents have called on the federal and state governments to intensify rescue efforts, strengthen security architecture and restore public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.
As communities mourn, flee or wait anxiously for news of abducted relatives, the latest attacks reinforce growing concerns that insecurity in northern Nigeria is becoming entrenched, threatening social stability, religious coexistence and economic survival across vast rural regions.
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