Bandits Kill Three, Kidnap Pastor and 29 Others in Kaduna Church Attack

On Sunday, bandits attacked the Bakinpah-Maro community in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, leaving three people dead and 30 others kidnapped during a church service. The attack, which occurred around 10:00 a.m., targeted two churches — ECWA and Catholic — in the area.

Among those abducted was Pastor Bernard Gajera, along with 29 other worshippers. According to Cafra Caino, former chairman of Kajuru LGA, the gunmen arrived in large numbers and wreaked havoc on the congregation. Local police are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.

This marks another violent episode in the troubled community, which had recently raised funds to build a security post in an effort to improve safety for its residents. Despite these efforts, repeated attacks have forced many farmers to abandon their fields, intensifying the security crisis in the state.