Gunmen kill pastor, ‘abduct 20’ in Kaduna community

Gunmen have reportedly killed Yahaya Kambasya, a pastor, and abducted 20 others in Farin Dutse, Kauru LGA of Kaduna state.

The bandits were said to have invaded the community in the early hours of Tuesday.

Kambasya preached at the United Church of Christ in Nigeria (UCCN), popularly known as HEKAN.

Members of the church were among those kidnapped during the raid.

In a statement, Amos Kiri, national president of HEKAN, said during the attack, the cleric and others hid in a farm amid sporadic gunshots.

Kiri said after the guns went silent, the preacher and others thought the bandits had left the community.

As the pastor emerged from his hideout, he was reportedly shot on the chest.

“According to a report from one of our pastors over there, Rev. Dauda Gambo, the chairman of HEKAN Kauru district church council, heavily armed bandits/cattle rustlers attacked the community (Farin Dutse) in the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, 2025 and perpetrated evil on innocent residents,” Kiri said.

“The attack resulted in the death of Rev. Yahaya Kambasya and the kidnapping of over 20 people among them are HEKAN members.

“The bandits invaded the community and started shooting sporadically at locals and whisked away with those captured.

“Reverend Yahaya Kambasya and a few others had to hide in a farm till the end of the gunshot which lasted a bit long.

“Immediately the bandits stopped shooting, the Clergyman Rev. Kambasya thought they’ve gone, so he came out of his hiding in the farm to go and check, only for him to be shot at the back which penetrated through his chest, so he died immediately.”

The national president said the church has been on the receiving end of a string of violent attacks in recent times.

“It would be recalled that HEKAN church in same area was attacked by bandits. On 4th December, 2024 Which led to the abduction of fifty persons among which are HEKAN members including its pastor, Reverend Francis Lawal,” he added.

“Sadly, one of the kidnapped victims died in the hands of his captors and several other returned with various degrees of injury.

“On 1st December, 2024, one Bitrus Alma, his sister and two others were kidnapped both at Farin Dutse, Kauru Local Government Kaduna.”