By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted a Catholic Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Bobbo Paschal, and killed one person during an attack in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, 17 November 2025, amid heightened international attention on insecurity in Nigeria. Fr. Paschal, who serves as the Parish Priest of St. Stephen Parish, Kushe Gugdu, was taken from his residence during the raid.
According to a statement issued by the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Christian Okewu Emmanuel, the attackers also killed the brother of Rev. Fr. Anthony Yero and abducted several other residents.
The statement, addressed to all priests, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese, read in part:
“I write to inform you of the attack on Kushe Gugdu and the abduction of one of our priests, Rev. Fr. Bobbo Paschal, Parish Priest of St. Stephen Parish, Kushe Gugdu, in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, from his residence during the early hours of today, Monday.”
“During the attack, many others were abducted, and the brother of Rev. Fr. Anthony Yero was killed.”
The Archdiocese appealed for prayers for the safe return of the kidnapped victims and the peaceful repose of the deceased.
Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to inquiries as of press time.
