Bandits slay pastor, abduct 20 worshippers in Kaduna community

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

KADUNA—The United Church of Christ successful Nigeria, UCCN, besides known arsenic HEKAN, has raised the alarm implicit the sidesplitting of 1 of its pastors, Reverend Yahaya Kambasiya, and the abduction of implicit 20 persons during a caller onslaught connected the Farin Dutse assemblage successful Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The tragic incidental occurred successful the aboriginal hours of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, erstwhile heavy equipped bandits invaded the quiescent community, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.
The attackers reportedly whisked distant respective villagers, including worshippers from the HEKAN Church.

In a connection by the President of HEKAN, Reverend Dr. Amos Kiri, the religion described the onslaught arsenic “callous, inhumane, and wicked,” lamenting the continuous targeting of Christian communities and clergy successful the area.

“With a dense heart, connected behalf of HEKAN Headquarters, I privation to pass the satellite of a tragic incidental that occurred successful Farin Dutse, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State, wherever bandits attacked our pastor and different persons successful the area,” Dr. Kiri stated.

Quoting a tract study from the Chairman of the HEKAN Kauru District Church Council, Rev. Dauda Gambo, helium explained that the bandits invaded the assemblage astatine dawn, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to fly into adjacent bushes.“The bandits invaded the assemblage and started shooting sporadically. Reverend Kambasiya and a fewer others took refuge successful a adjacent farm. Thinking the gunmen had left, helium came retired of hiding, lone to beryllium changeable successful the back. The slug pierced done his chest, and helium died instantly,” the connection said.

Dr. Kiri noted that the precocious clergyman’s remains had been deposited successful a morgue, portion the religion was consulting with his household connected burial arrangements.

The HEKAN President recalled that this was not the archetypal clip the religion had been attacked successful the area. On December 4, 2024, bandits abducted astir 50 persons, including a HEKAN pastor, Reverend Francis Lawal, who aboriginal died successful captivity.

Similarly, connected October 19, 2025, 4 members of the HEKAN Kakude Local Church were kidnapped and are inactive being held by their captors.

“The continuous attacks connected our members successful Kauru person go worrisome. We telephone connected information agencies and applicable authorities to spell aft these bandits and rescue those abducted. Families of the victims are passing done unbearable trauma,” Dr. Kiri stated.

He urged Nigerians to commune for the bereaved families and those inactive successful captivity, calling for divine involution successful the country’s worsening information situation.

“HEKAN arsenic a religion requests your prayers for the family, the Church, and the assemblage during this trying moment. We besides commune that God volition intervene successful the affairs of our federation and bring an extremity to these incessant killings and kidnappings,” helium said.

The religion disclosed that it had officially informed the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) successful the Northern States and Kaduna State, arsenic good arsenic the Divisional Police Station successful Kauru and different applicable authorities, astir the incident.