By Austine Emmanuel,Kaduna
Tragedy struck the Karku community in the early hours of Saturday as suspected terrorists launched a violent invasion, resulting in the death of three residents and the abduction of a Catholic priest alongside ten others.
The assailants targeted the residence of Reverend Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku, during a coordinated assault that began at approximately 3:20 AM.
The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction in a statement released by its Chancellor, Very Reverend Father Jacob Shanet, PhD, identifying the priest as one of the primary targets of the operation.
The Diocese identified the three deceased victims as Mr. Jacob Dan’azumi, Mr. Maitala Kaura, and Alhaji Kusari.
The statement expressed profound sadness over the coordinated attack, which has plunged the Kauru Local Government Area into a state of mourning and intense fear.
Amid the rising wave of violence targeting religious leaders and rural settlements in Southern Kaduna, the Diocese has called on the Christian faithful and people of goodwill to pray for the safe release of the captives and the repose of the souls of the departed.
While the church has entrusted the victims to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, security agencies in the state have yet to issue an official response to this latest breach of peace.