A priest of the Archdiocese of Kaduna in Nigeria has been abducted following a violent attack on the community of Kushe Gugdu in the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to a communication received by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), armed assailants struck in the early hours of Monday 17 November, assaulting the residence of Fr Bobbo Paschal, parish priest of St Stephen Parish, and taking him captive.
In the same attack, militants killed the brother of another priest, Fr Anthony Yero, and abducted a number of other individuals. At this time, the archdiocese has not reported further fatalities.
The archdiocese urged “all people of goodwill to join in prayer for the safety and swift release of Fr Bobbo Paschal and all those abducted, and for the peaceful repose of the deceased.”
ACN expressed “deep concern over this latest act of violence targeting Christian communities and clergy in Nigeria” and confirmed that it remains in close contact with the local Church as events unfold.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of acute crisis for religious freedom in Africa and in Nigeria specifically. The country has been categorised as “under persecution” in the ACN 2025 Religious Freedom Report, highlighting severe and systematic violations of religious liberty.
Armed extremist organisations such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province continue operations in the northeast, while the Middle Belt region has seen escalating violence, including church burnings and attacks on worshippers.
A report from Open Doors states that in 2024 Nigeria was the country with the highest number of Christians killed for their faith, with 3,100 Christians killed and 2,830 kidnapped that year.
On 31 October 2025 the United States government redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing mounting reports of targeted attacks on Christian minorities and the government’s persistent failure to provide adequate protection.
Yesterday, on the 18th, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV spoke informally to journalists at Castel Gandolfo, highlighting that both Christians and Muslims have “been slaughtered” in a conflict driven by terrorism and economic pressures.
“I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians, but for all people,” he said. “There’s a question of terrorism. There’s a question that has to do a lot with economics, if you will, and control of the lands that they have. Unfortunately, many Christians have died.”
