Gunmen killed three villagers and abducted 11 people, including a Catholic priest, in a predawn raid in northwest Nigeria, officials said.
The attackers stormed the priest’s residence around 3 a.m. in Kauru, Kaduna state, according to the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan.
Church officials described the assault as a terrorist invasion, deepening fear in a region already scarred by persistent insecurity and communal trauma.
The attack reflects escalating violence across northern Nigeria, where armed groups routinely target civilians, religious institutions, and rural communities.
In January, more than 150 Christians were abducted from churches in Kaduna, while Islamic extremists killed at least 160 people in Kwara state.
Authorities have released no immediate details on the Kaduna attack, and no information was provided about rescue operations or arrests.
The Kaduna Catholic Church urged prayers for the victims and appealed for the safe return of those taken hostage.
Northern Nigeria faces a tangled security crisis driven by Islamist militants and criminal gangs seeking ransom and territorial control.
President Bola Tinubu has struggled to contain the violence since his 2023 election, despite pledges to restore security nationwide.
Analysts say armed groups are moving southward, pressured by military operations and rivalry among insurgent factions.
Nigeria has drawn criticism from the United States over civilian protection, particularly of Christians, though violence affects multiple religious communities.
The tensions have spurred closer security cooperation, including U.S. strikes on armed groups and a limited American military presence.