KANO, Nigeria: At least 51 people have been abducted and three killed in a series of attacks over the past three days across four villages in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State, security officials said on Saturday.

The attacks occurred in the southern part of the state, a predominantly Christian region that has witnessed repeated waves of violence. In January, more than 180 people were kidnapped during coordinated raids on churches in the area.

On Saturday, armed assailants abducted 11 people, including a priest, in the Kajuru Local Government Area, security sources told AFP. In a separate attack nearby the same day, three people were killed and 38 others kidnapped, among them a local imam and four members of his congregation.

A day earlier, two people were abducted on the road to Maro, also in Kajuru. On Thursday, attackers destroyed several houses in Maro, though authorities have not yet disclosed the number of victims.

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No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The incidents form part of a broader pattern of mass kidnappings that intensified in late 2025, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in Africa’s most populous country.

In response, Nigeria’s president declared a state of emergency and launched a large-scale recruitment drive for the military and police.

The United States has criticised Nigeria’s handling of the violence, with President Donald Trump condemning what he described as the “persecution” of Christians — a narrative that resonates strongly with segments of the American religious right.

However, analysts and observers argue that the violence perpetrated by jihadist groups and criminal gangs has affected both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.

According to a report by Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence, kidnappings in Nigeria have evolved into “a structured and lucrative industry,” generating an estimated $1.7 million between July 2024 and June 2025.