A senior cleric of the Anglican Communion in Kaduna State, Venerable Edwin Achi, has been confirmed dead while in the custody of bandits. His wife and daughter remain in captivity as fears grow over their safety.
Achi, a priest of the Diocese of Kaduna and a native of Umuaja in Delta State’s Ukwuani Local Government Area, was abducted alongside his wife, Mrs. Sarah Achi, a Customs officer on October 28, 2025, in a nighttime attack that has sent shockwaves through the Christian community.
According to church authorities, the kidnappers demanded an extraordinary ₦600 million ransom, a figure many described as “outrageous” and impossible for the family or church to raise.
A photo released by the kidnappers last week showed Achi and several other victims seated on bare ground in a forested area.
Security analysts say the image highlights a disturbing trend: kidnappers are increasingly holding large groups of unrelated victims, suggesting a widening network of bandit operations and a deepening security crisis across northern Nigeria.
