In a disturbing development, Rev. Fr. James Ibrahim of St. Gerald’s Quasi Parish was kidnapped by gunmen who stormed Kurmin Rizga village, located in Kaduna’s Kauru LGA, during the early hours of Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
According to local sources and intelligence reports, the armed men arrived in the community, firing randomly to instill fear.
Amid the chaos, they took the Catholic priest and vanished without a trace, leaving villagers terrified and traumatized.
Reacting swiftly, operatives of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division teamed up with other security agencies to initiate a coordinated search-and-rescue mission.
Their primary objective is to secure the release of the abducted clergyman and bring those responsible to justice.
Military officials confirmed that efforts are ongoing, and the operation is being handled with urgency.
The abduction is the latest in a troubling trend of clergy being targeted in Northern Nigeria, raising fresh concerns about the safety of religious figures.
Residents are now urging the authorities to bolster security presence in the region and safeguard vulnerable communities from further attacks.