A wave of terror has swept through the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State following a violent raid by suspected bandits who kidnapped a local catechist, his pregnant wife, and over 30 other community members. The attack, which targeted the St. Joseph Catholic Church community in Kadarko, has triggered a mass exodus, leaving the once vibrant village nearly empty.

Local sources confirm that the majority of the population fled to neighboring areas in search of safety, with many residents now seeking refuge in the village of Kenya. The atmosphere remains thick with anxiety as families struggle to come to terms with the scale of the disappearances.

Speaking on the incident, Reverend Father Linus Matthew Bobai, the Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s, described a scene of profound fear. He noted that although military personnel arrived shortly after the raid to scout the area, their presence was brief, leaving the community feeling vulnerable and exposed. According to the priest, the village is now a ghost town, with fewer than 40 residents remaining behind out of a population that usually numbers in the hundreds.

Father Bobai emphasized that while the community feels handicapped by the lack of sustained security, a small group of leaders and clergy have chosen to stay. He explained that their decision to remain is rooted in a commitment to provide spiritual support and to oversee what remains of the village, even as they urge the government to take more decisive action to secure the area.

As of Thursday, the whereabouts of the catechist, his wife, and the other abducted residents remain unknown. This latest incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing rural communities in Kaduna State, where kidnapping for ransom continues to disrupt daily life and displace entire populations.