Gunmen have reportedly killed Yahaya Kambasya, a pastor, and abducted 20 others in Farin Dutse, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State.
The assailants were said to have stormed the community in the early hours of Tuesday.
Kambasya was a preacher at the United Church of Christ in Nigeria (UCCN), popularly known as HEKAN. Several members of the congregation were among those taken during the attack.
In a statement, Amos Kiri, the national president of HEKAN, revealed that during the raid, the pastor and other residents sought refuge in a nearby farm amid heavy gunfire.
Kiri explained that after the gunshots subsided, they assumed the attackers had left. However, as the pastor stepped out of hiding, he was shot in 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.”
Kiri further noted that the church has suffered a series of violent assaults in the area.
“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.”