Terrorists, around 1:00 am on Wednesday, stormed St. Patrick Catholic Church at Gidan Mai Kanbu, in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State where they kidnapped two priests and some of their visitors.
The gunmen, who came in large numbers, were not seen on motorcycles as usual.
They are yet to make any demand or communicate with the Catholic Diocese as of the time of filing this report.
Christopher Omotosho, the director of social communications at the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, who confirmed the incident in a statement, however urged the public to pray for the safe return of the abductees.
“As at midnight of today, 25th May, 2022, gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State,” Mr Omotosho said.
” The parish priest and his assistant Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara and 2 other boys in the house were kidnapped.
“No information as to their whereabouts. Kindly pray for their safety and release.”
The Katsina abduction came two weeks after another Catholic priest was kidnapped in Akwa Ibom, South-South Nigeria.
Alphonsus Uboh was abducted from his parsonage at Saintt Pius X Parish, Ikot Abasi Akpan, in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state, on May 9, with his abductors later demanding N100 million ransom.
The 48-year-old was freed four days later after his church paid an unspecified amount of ransom.
Before the Catholic priest’s abduction, another clergyman was also seized in the oil-rich state less than three weeks earlier.
John Okoriko, the founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, was abducted in Ibekwe Akpanya, a distance less than 10 kilometres from where Catholic priest Alphonsus Uboh was kidnapped.
Mr Okoriko’s abductors also demanded N100 million ransom for his release.
Among those kidnapped are the Mai Kanbu Parish Priest, Father Stephen Ojapah and another priest identified as Father Oliver.
The spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo said he has not received any report on the incident.
He, however, promised to revert to our correspondent as soon as he verifies the claim.
Details later…
