A Catholic priest has been abducted from his residence in Kaduna State, deepening concerns over rising insecurity across northern Nigeria.
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ezema was seized late on Tuesday at about 11:30 p.m. from St. Peter’s Catholic Church in the Rumi community of Zaria Diocese.
The Church confirmed the abduction on Wednesday, saying the priest was taken from his home, though it offered no details on the identity or demands of the kidnappers.
The diocese urged prayers for his safe return, as uncertainty spread among parishioners already burdened by repeated attacks on clergy.
Kidnappings for ransom have become a grim feature of life across Nigeria’s northwest, where armed groups roam with impunity.
Clergy, travellers and rural families often face the threat of sudden violence, while authorities struggle to contain the escalating crisis.
Fr. Ezema’s abduction adds to a growing list of assaults that have unsettled communities and strained Nigeria’s security response.
