By Fatima Mukhtar
Tragedy struck in the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, as gunmen attacked Farin Dutse community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing a pastor and abducting more than twenty worshippers during a church service.
According to reports, the attackers stormed the village at dawn, shooting sporadically to scare residents. The victim, identified as Reverend Yahaya Kambasaya of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria (HEKAN), was reportedly shot dead while trying to protect his congregation.
Eyewitnesses said the bandits broke into homes and took away several members of the community, including women and children. Many residents fled into nearby bushes for safety.
A local source told newsmen that the incident lasted for hours without any immediate response from security operatives.
“The bandits came around 6:00 am when people were preparing for morning worship. They started shooting everywhere. Reverend Yahaya tried to calm people down, but they shot him. They later took away many worshippers,” the source said.
The leadership of the HEKAN church has since condemned the attack, describing it as “heartbreaking and barbaric.” The church called on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted worshippers and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The attack comes barely a year after a similar incident in the same area, where scores of villagers, including another clergyman, were abducted.
As of the time of this report, the Kaduna State Police Command is yet to release an official statement, though local vigilante groups have begun search efforts to locate the victims.
The renewed wave of violence has continued to raise concern over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Kaduna, where communities have been under repeated attacks by bandits and kidnappers.
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