Four Catholic priests remain in the hands of Islamic militant groups in Nigeria as the country faces an escalating wave of violence against Christians. Over 7,000 Nigerian Christians were murdered by Islamic militants in 2025 alone, while thousands more were kidnapped for ransom or never seen again. The Missing Priests Father John Bako Shekwolo has been missing since 2019, kidnapped from the Archdiocese of Kaduna. Father Joseph Igweagu was taken in 2022 and has not been heard from since. Father Emmanuel Ezema remains in captivity with no confirmed release or proof of life. Most recently, Father Nathaniel Asuwaye was kidnapped on February 7, 2026, when gunmen raided his parish and residence in Karku, Kaduna State. His status remains unconfirmed. Between 2015 and 2025, at least 145 Catholic priests were kidnapped and 11 killed in Nigeria. Kaduna was the deadliest state, with 24 priests abducted and seven killed. A communications director for one Nigerian diocese told Catholic News Agency that priests are easy targets because they are easily identified, generally unprotected, and their communities make extraordinary efforts to raise ransom. No priest comes out of captivity without ransom being paid, according to the source. Christian in Nigeria need to fight back against this Evil of Islam… Nobody is helping them so they need to find a way to fight this killing… The Pope sure wonts help… He does not believe its a problem. https://t.co/QNE06eFLXC — Christopher Robinson (@DreamDetective1) April 15, 2026 Epidemic of Abductions Open Doors documented 2,830 Christians kidnapped in 2024. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, organizations recorded 7,800 Christians kidnapped, approximately 35 per day. The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa reported that over four years, the Fulani Ethnic Militia alone carried out over 21,000 abductions in the North-Central Zone and Southern Kaduna. In the Diocese of Minna alone, more than 90 churches have closed due to chronic insecurity. Not all captives survive. Gunmen abducted four seminarians from Good Shepherd Seminary in Kaduna and released three, but killed 18-year-old Michael Nnadi after he refused to renounce his Christian faith. A man claiming responsibility later gave an interview stating he executed Nnadi because he would not stop proclaiming his faith in captivity. What This Means Violence in 2026 is already outpacing previous years, and with Nigerian general elections approaching, political tensions remain high. Federal and state intervention remains limited, and attacks continue on an almost daily basis across the North, East, and Middle Belt regions. The situation has been described by prominent voices as systematic persecution driven by Islamization and ethnic cleansing. Sources The Gateway Pundit: Kidnapped Priests and Christian Civilians Still Held by Islamists in Nigeria