BREAKING: Terrorists Kidnap Popular Nigerian Pastor, Children
Terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, have abducted a Baptist Church cleric, Pastor Daniel Bagama, and his three daughters at Tudun Bussa village in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the community and began shooting sporadically before heading to the pastor’s residence, where they whisked off the victims to an unknown destination. The Conference President of the Kaduna Baptist Conference, Rev. Ishaya Adamu Jangado, disclosed this in a letter copied to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). “I write to inform you that bandits have abducted a Baptist Church Pastor, Pastor Daniel Bagama and his three daughters at Tudun Bussa village, Chikun local government area of Kaduna state,” the letter reads. According to him, the incident occurred late on Sunday night, January 18, 2026, at about 11pm, when the attackers stormed Tudun Bussa village in Chikun Local Government Area and abducted the victims. The Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Caleb Ma’aji Bawa, confirmed the abduction of the pastor and his three daughters. Naija News House earlier reported that barely five days after the abduction of 177 Christian worshippers in Kurmin Wali community, bandits struck again in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, reportedly kidnapping four persons in a fresh attack. The victims were said to have been travelling from Maro Market on Friday evening when they were intercepted along the Maro–Kajuru axis. A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, confirmed the incident. According to the source, the victims were in a Peageot Boxer with registration number DKA 680 ZY (Kaduna) when armed men forced them into the bush shortly after Kuturu Buzu, just a few kilometres from Kurmin Wali, where last week’s mass abduction occurred. “The victims were on their way back from purchasing items at Maro Market when the bandits attacked and dragged them into the bush,” the source said. The fresh abduction has further heightened fear among residents of Kajuru and neighbouring communities, who continue to voice concern over the rising wave of kidnappings and the seeming impunity of bandits in the area. When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls and text message sent to him. Meanwhile, residents are calling on security agencies to intervene urgently to rescue the victims and prevent further attacks. It was earlier reported that residents of Southern Maska in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State also raised the alarm over escalating insecurity in the area, despite several peace agreements reportedly brokered between local government stakeholders and armed bandit groups. Community members say they are living in constant fear as bandits continue to unleash attacks, issue threats and impose levies on villages, making normal life impossible across the axis. The affected communities include Unguwar Mailaya, Asharaha, Burma, Gobirawa, Gwangwari, Dan Tudu, Tudun Maje, Kurku, Ganwai, Yar Tasha, Gursudu, Batarawa, Gidan Alhaji Koshe, Dan Kunsai, Hayin Gishiri, Unguwar Dini, Gidan Soda, Yambu and several other surrounding settlements. Sources noted that the villages suffered repeated violent attacks involving killings, kidnappings and large-scale theft of livestock and other valuables and residents have started fleeing. “As recently as two nights ago, gunmen attempted to invade Unguwar Mailaya but were repelled by residents,” a source said. “However, the attackers later moved to Kauran Fawa in Dandume Local Government Area, where they reportedly killed eight people.” Residents further alleged that bandits have become increasingly brazen, now placing direct phone calls to villagers to threaten attacks or demand payments described as haraji (levies). According to locals, the ability of the armed groups to communicate freely with residents reflects the absence of adequate security presence in the affected communities. “The bandits call people on the phone, threatening them and demanding money. We don’t see enough security personnel here, and that is why they are bold,” a resident said.
