At least 51 individuals have been abducted, and three have lost their lives in a series of assaults spanning the last three days across four distinct communities in Kaduna State’s northern region in Nigeria, as confirmed by security authorities on Saturday.
The incidents occurred in the southern section of the state, predominantly inhabited by Christians, where over 180 individuals were taken captive in January during incursions on churches.
On Saturday, armed assailants kidnapped 11 individuals, including a clergyman, in the Kajuru Local Government Area, as reported by security sources to AFP.
In a separate incident on the same day, three individuals were killed, and 38 were abducted, including a local imam and four members of his congregation.
The preceding day, two individuals were taken captive along the Maro route in Kajuru. The attackers also vandalized residences in Maro on Thursday, with the specific number of victims yet undisclosed.
No entity has assumed responsibility for these assaults.
A series of large-scale abductions in late 2025 drew attention to the concerning security predicament in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa.
In response, the Nigerian president declared a state of emergency and initiated a recruitment campaign to bolster military and police personnel.
The United States has censured the West African nation for its incapacity to quell the violence, with US President Donald Trump condemning what he labeled as the “persecution” of Christians – a prominent rallying cry for the American religious conservative faction.
While many observers contend that jihadist factions and criminal syndicates are responsible for the killings and abductions, targeting both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.
According to a report by SBM Intelligence, a consultancy based in Lagos, Nigeria’s kidnapping incidents have evolved into a well-organized and profitable sector, generating approximately $1.7 million between July 2024 and June 2025.
