Another priest kidnapped in Nigeria’s decade of terror

Over the past decade, Nigeria has endured a relentless wave of terror targeting Catholic clergy and Christian communities, with at least 212 Catholic priests kidnapped between 2015 and 2025, according to an ongoing study shared by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

This figure, documented across at least 41 of the country’s 59 Catholic dioceses and archdioceses, mirrors findings in ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025, which identifies Nigeria as one of the most dangerous countries globally for clergy and religious leaders.

Of those kidnapped in the past decade, 183 were released or escaped, but 12 were murdered and three died later from trauma and injuries suffered in captivity. At least four priests remain in captivity — among them Father John Bako Shekwolo and Father Emmanuel Ezema — and some have been abducted more than once, underscoring the persistent vulnerability of Catholic clergy.

The toll on the Church in Nigeria has been devastating, as pastoral life is severely disrupted. In the Diocese of Minna alone, more than 90 churches have closed amid chronic insecurity, and many priests have been taken from rectories, pastoral journeys, or even while on their way to celebrate Mass.

In a stark reminder that the crisis persists, Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Karku, Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, was kidnapped on February 7 when gunmen raided his parish and residence in the early hours of the morning.

Alongside him, 10 residents were abducted and three people were killed in the attack. The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abductions and urged prayers for the safe release of Fr. Asuwaye and the others.

Security forces and local residents have mobilised to pursue the abductors in the rugged terrain of southern Kaduna, but as of now Fr. Asuwaye has not been reported as released. The diocese’s chancellor implored “priests, Christian faithful, and men and women of goodwill” to pray for their safety.

The violence that plagues Nigeria is complex and multifaceted. In the north, jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State-West Africa Province (ISWAP) drive terror campaigns aimed at imposing radical Islamist agendas. In central regions, especially the Middle Belt, armed bandit militias and Fulani herders carry out systematic attacks that disproportionately affect Christians through mass killings, abductions, village destruction, and forced displacement.

Kidnapping has also become a lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria’s insecure economy. Priests are frequent targets because they are easily identified, generally unprotected, and their communities often make extraordinary efforts to secure their release through ransom payments. Leaders have moved to stop the paying of ransoms, considering that it only prolongs the problem.

The abduction of Fr. Asuwaye comes amid a broader national kidnapping crisis that affects many different sectors of society — including recent mass abductions of schoolchildren in northern Nigeria. Responding to escalating violence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency in late 2025, authorizing the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers and extraordinary security measures across multiple states.