At least 51 people have been kidnapped and three killed in a series of attacks over the past three days in four villages in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State, security sources said on Saturday.
The attacks occurred in the southern part of the state, which is predominantly Christian and where more than 180 people were abducted in January during raids on churches.
On Saturday, armed men abducted 11 people, including a priest, in the Kajuru Local Government Area, security sources told AFP.
A separate attack nearby later the same day left three people dead and 38 others kidnapped, including a local imam and four members of his congregation.
A day earlier, two people were kidnapped on the road to Maro, also in Kajuru. On Thursday, attackers destroyed homes in Maro, although authorities have not released a casualty figure.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
A wave of mass kidnappings in late 2025 drew renewed attention to Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
In response, the president declared a state of emergency and launched a recruitment drive for military and police personnel.
The United States has criticised Nigeria’s failure to curb the violence, with President Donald Trump denouncing what he described as the “persecution” of Christians — a recurring theme among the American religious right.
Most analysts, however, say the violence carried out by jihadist groups and criminal gangs has indiscriminately targeted both Christians and Muslims.
Kidnapping in Nigeria has become “a structured and lucrative industry”, generating an estimated $1.7 million between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.
