Terrorists invaded Kutaho and Kugir communities in Kaduna State’s Kagarko area, abducting 32 villagers including a Catholic catechist and his pregnant wife.
The brazen attack unfolded around 2 a.m. on February 9, 2026, as residents slept peacefully in their homes.
Terrorists moved swiftly from house to house, seizing 20 people from Kutaho and 11 from Kugir, focusing on vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
Among the victims, Victor, the parish catechist at St. Joseph Catholic Church, and his heavily pregnant wife faced particular peril, raising urgent concerns about their safety amid the harsh conditions of captivity.
Rev. Fr. Linus Matthew Bobai, the parish priest, confirmed the details in a statement, emphasizing how the terrorists had issued prior threats.
They demanded ₦10 million from a local farmer, citing the community’s thriving ginger and irrigation farming as proof of wealth.
However, when the ransom went unpaid, the group escalated to violence, injuring the chief of Kutaho severely enough to require immediate medical care.
In the aftermath, panic gripped the area, prompting a mass exodus.
Residents fled to safer neighboring villages, leaving behind deserted homes and farms in a scene of abrupt abandonment.
Meanwhile, local leaders and clergy appealed desperately for government intervention, highlighting a pattern of unchecked aggression in northern Nigeria.
Security forces remained notably silent three days later, fueling frustration among survivors who questioned the state’s commitment to protecting rural communities.
This incident adds to a grim wave of terror in Kaduna State, where similar assaults have displaced thousands and claimed lives in recent months.
For instance, just days earlier, terrorists targeted other Kagarko villages, abducting a chief imam and a Fulani leader while rustling cattle.
Nevertheless, community advocates persist in calling for enhanced patrols and intelligence to curb these threats, underscoring the urgent need for decisive action to restore peace.
