Gunmen kill three and abduct Catholic priest in lethal assault in Nigeria | EUROtoday

Gunmen killed three folks and kidnapped a Catholic priest together with a number of others throughout an early morning assault on the clergyman’s residence in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, church and police sources stated on Sunday.

Saturday’s assault in Kauru district highlights persistent insecurity within the area, and got here simply days after safety providers rescued all 166 worshippers kidnapped in assaults by gunmen on two church buildings elsewhere in Kaduna.

Such assaults have drawn the eye of US President Donald Trump, who has accused Nigeria’s authorities of failing to guard Christians, a cost Abuja denies.

US forces struck what they described as terrorist targets in northwestern Nigeria on December 25.

The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan named the kidnapped clergyman as Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Karku, and stated 10 different folks have been kidnapped.

Three residents have been killed in the course of the assault, which started at about 3:20 a.m. (0220 GMT), the diocese stated in a press release.

A Kaduna police spokesperson confirmed the incident, however stated 5 folks had been kidnapped in whole and that the three folks killed have been members of the safety forces.

“Security agents exchanged gunfire with the bandits, killed some of them, and unfortunately two soldiers and a police officer lost their lives,” he stated.

Rights group Amnesty International stated in a press release on Sunday that Nigeria’s safety disaster was “increasingly getting out of hand”. It accused the federal government of “gross incompetence” and failure to guard civilians as gunmen kill, abduct and terrorise rural communities throughout a number of northern states.

A presidency spokesperson couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.

Pope Leo, throughout his weekly handle to the trustworthy in St. Peter’s Square, expressed solidarity with the victims of latest assaults in Nigeria.

“I hope that the competent authorities will continue to act with determination to ensure the security and protection of every citizen’s life,” Leo stated.