The Archdiocese of Kaduna has had several incidents of persecution, including kidnappings and murder of priests.

A fourth priest, Fr John Bako Shekwolo has been missing since March 2019.

The Nigerian security forces have proven they are capable, our military can do this, so that this is happening in our country shows that something has gone wrong.

In fifty of my parishes, priests cannot stay in their rectories, because they are targets, they are seen as an easy source of money for ransom.

"[5] In reaction, representatives from the Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in Kaduna, Nigeria, Zaria and Kafanchan, which are all within the borders of Kaduna state, labelled the comments a “divisive, bigoted, hateful and completely unstatesmanlike declaration of Islamic political supremacism in Kaduna State and Nigeria”[5] On 7 September 2023, news emerged of the kidnap of a seminarian.

Ezequiel Nuhu studies belongs to the diocese of Abuja, but was on holiday in Kaduna, and was abducted with his father.