- Venerable Edwin Achi was kidnapped alongside wife in Kaduna community.
- Family received proof-of-life photos as bandits demanded N600m ransom.
- Source confirms the priest died in captivity after weeks of torture.
- Attack adds to rising banditry and insecurity across Kaduna State.
Venerable Edwin Achi, an Anglican priest, has died in the hands of his abductors after weeks in captivity, SaharaReporters learnt on Wednesday night.
The clergyman and his wife, Sarah Achi, were kidnapped from their residence in the Nissi community of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State on October 28, 2025. The house is located close to the Kaduna Refinery, a hotspot where abductions have become increasingly frequent.
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The abduction was first reported by SaharaReporters a day after the incident. The kidnappers soon contacted the family and sent photographs of the priest and his wife as evidence they were still alive. The bandits also demanded a ransom of N600 million before the victims would be released.
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The images showed the priest and his wife looking exhausted and distressed. Several other captives also appeared in the background, chained and visibly malnourished.
A reliable family source confirmed on Wednesday that Venerable Achi, who served as the Priest-in-Charge of Ebenezer Anglican Church, Ungwan Maijero, Kaduna, did not survive the ordeal. The cause of death remains unclear, but the family suspects prolonged torture, starvation and harsh conditions contributed to his death.
“We received the news tonight. It is a painful loss,” the source told SaharaReporters.
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The tragic development adds to the rising number of deadly attacks in Kaduna State. In an earlier incident, two police officers were killed when bandits raided the Divisional Police Headquarters in Zonkwa town, the headquarters of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.
Residents say the attacks have increased despite multiple security operations launched in the region.
Security analysts warn that the death of Venerable Achi further highlights the worsening kidnapping crisis, banditry and insecurity in communities across Kaduna State.
