Tragic Kidnapping in Central Nigeria: Village Head Found Dead After Abduction

Yuda Garba, a village head, was found dead after being kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen along with eight others in central Nigeria. Authorities have stepped up searches to locate the remaining victims. The continuing violence against Christians in Nigeria raises concerns about security and religious freedom in the region.

On March 17, a village head named Yuda Garba, who was kidnapped along with seven other Christians on March 11 in central Nigeria, was found deceased. Garba was taken by suspected Fulani herdsmen from the predominantly Christian Dnako village in the Bwari Area Council of the Abuja Federal Capital Territory. His body was discovered in the Nomadic Forest near Kuyeri, located in the Kagarko Local Government Area, close to the border with Kaduna state.

Family members confirmed the identification of Garba’s remains. Security authorities are reportedly intensifying operations to locate the other captives abducted during the raid. Among those kidnapped were Garba’s grandchildren, Ephraim and Philemon, along with another Christian named Nicholas and four other villagers, as detailed by local residents.

Residents reported that armed herdsmen invaded the village around midnight, forcibly removing individuals from their homes at gunpoint. One villager, Tanko Baba, illustrated the traumatic experience, stating that the attack was executed while the victims slept. “One of the Christians kidnapped is my cousin Nicholas,” Baba shared, underscoring the fear surrounding such incidents.

Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson for the Abuja Federal Capital Territory Police Command, confirmed that police forces had been dispatched to the area to search for the abductors. Local efforts are ongoing in hopes of rescuing the other victims.

In another incident, a brother of Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, a prominent Catholic bishop, was kidnapped on March 5 in Anchuna village, Zangon Kataf County, Kaduna state. Ishaya Kukah was taken along with six other Christians by armed assailants. Samuel Kukah, his brother, reported that this occurred forcefully at gunpoint during a night raid.

The Kaduna State Police Command acknowledged the incident, confirming that measures are being taken to rescue the victims. Reports indicate that the Fulani community, which is predominantly Muslim, comprises diverse clans with varying ideologies, some of which align with radical Islamist beliefs.

Christian leaders in Nigeria warn that attacks by herdsmen on Christian communities are motivated by a desire to seize land and impose Islam due to the challenges posed by desertification. Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List reported that Nigeria ranks as one of the most perilous nations for Christians, with 69 percent of Christians killed for their faith globally occurring within its borders.

The report indicated a pervasive trend of anti-Christian violence, particularly in North-Central Nigeria, where jihadist groups and Fulani militia target farming communities. The rise of kidnappings for ransom has become a troubling norm in the region, as the violence has started to infiltrate southern states, leading to the emergence of new terror groups like Lakurawa, which are connected to broader Islamist insurgencies.

The incidents in central Nigeria highlight the alarming trend of violence against Christians, particularly from armed herdsmen. The tragic fate of Yuda Garba underscores the dire security situation, as abductions and killings continue unabated. The increasing attacks and the involvement of radicalized groups pose a significant threat to Christian communities in Nigeria, where the landscape for religious freedom continues to deteriorate. Effective governmental and security responses are imperative to combat this growing crisis and protect vulnerable populations.

Original Source: www.christiandaily.com