A wave of shock and grief has enveloped the Farin Dutse community in Kaduna State after armed bandits launched a deadly attack in the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, killing a local pastor and abducting more than 20 worshippers.
The deceased clergyman has been identified as Reverend Yahaya Kambasiya of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria (UCCN), popularly known as HEKAN. The brutal incident occurred when heavily armed assailants stormed the quiet community in Kauru Local Government Area, shooting sporadically and spreading terror among residents.
According to a statement from the President of HEKAN, Reverend Dr. Amos Kiri, Reverend Kambasiya had initially taken cover in a nearby farm during the onslaught. Tragically, upon emerging from his hiding place under the assumption that the attackers had departed, he was shot from behind and killed instantly. His body has since been taken to a mortuary as the church consults with his family regarding burial arrangements.
The assailants also kidnapped over 20 individuals from the community, a significant number of whom are members of the HEKAN church.
Reverend Dr. Amos Kiri condemned the deadly assault, describing it as “callous, inhumane, and wicked.”[ In his statement, he lamented that this was not an isolated incident, highlighting a disturbing pattern of violence against the church and its members in the region. He revealed that on October 19, 2025, four members of the HEKAN Church in Kakude were also kidnapped and are still being held captive.
The HEKAN leadership drew a parallel to a similar large-scale attack on December 4, 2024, where about 50 people, including another HEKAN pastor, Reverend Francis Lawal, were abducted. Reverend Lawal tragically died while in captivity.
The church has called on security agencies to intensify their efforts to rescue the abductees and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. “Families of the kidnap victims are going through trauma and uncertainty. We call on the security authorities to go after the bandits and ensure the safe release of our members,” appealed Reverend Kiri. The church leadership has formally notified the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the local police division about the attack.
As of the time of reporting, the Kaduna State Police Command had not yet issued an official statement on the incident. The community of Farin Dutse remains in a state of fear and mourning as they await news of the abducted residents.
