Islamists kidnap pastor’s wife and three children in Nigeria

Illustrative photo: Armed militants in a forested area of northeastern Nigeria. Photo: UOJ

On July 18, 2026, armed Islamists kidnapped the wife of Pastor Moses Guguma and their three children in northeastern Nigeria, according to Persecution.org.

The family was traveling from Maiduguri to Damasak, where Pastor Guguma leads a congregation of the Church of Christ in All Nations. Near a military checkpoint in the village of Kareto, militants stopped the passenger vehicle, boarded it, and ordered the pastor’s wife and the three children to get out.

According to an eyewitness, the attackers allowed the driver and the other passengers to continue because they were Muslims. The pastor’s wife and children were then taken away by force to an unknown location. The kidnapping is believed to have been carried out by militants from either Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“My wife was sick,” Pastor Guguma said. “She just recovered, and she was discharged from the hospital, coming to my station to see me and continued the ministry. Pray for us. My wife is still recovering from the illness.”

Members of the congregation believe the family was targeted because of their Christian faith. They said Islamist militants frequently demand large ransoms, force captives to convert to Islam, or kill those who refuse. As of publication, no ransom demand had been made.

As the UOJ previously reported, the United States blocked financial assistance to Nigeria over the persecution of Christians.

Read also