Gunmen have kidnapped a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Amos, in a midnight raid on his residence in Kurmin Risga, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The priest, who is in charge of St. Gerald Quasi Parish in the area, was taken around 12:15 am on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction in a statement signed by its Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Jacob Shanet.
“With deep sorrow, we write to announce that Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Amos… was abducted from his residence,” the statement read.
Fr. Shanet asked members of the Catholic Church and the public to pray for the priest’s safe return. He also urged people to remain calm and avoid taking matters into their own hands.
“We will use every legal and available means to ensure that Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Amos returns to us unharmed and in good health,” he said.
He also prayed for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking for protection and a quick release for the kidnapped priest.
When contacted for comment, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, said, “I will call you back.” However, as of the time of filing this report, he had not provided any further information.
This is not the first time such an incident has happened in Kaduna.
Just last month, another Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, was kidnapped and later killed by suspected bandits in Kaura Local Government Area. He was the parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tachira.
His death was also confirmed by the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, adding to growing concerns about the safety of religious leaders in the region.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for Fr. Amos’s abduction, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
