When will the kidnappings and killings of Catholic priests in Kaduna State end? Can the people of Kaduna sleep with both eyes closed? What’s behind the rise in kidnappings in Nigeria? The answers to these questions have remained elusive.
It is no longer news that the kidnapping and in some cases killing of Catholic priests in Kaduna State and other innocent citizens has become a recurring situation, which has highlighted the need for agencies to security to step up their games to stem the tide.
Sunday, February 6, 2022 Rev. At around 11:30 p.m., Joseph Danjuma Shekari was abducted from his home at St. Monica Catholic Church, Ikulu Pari, Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Although he regained his freedom barely 24 hours after his abduction according to the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, the Rev. Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo it was not without ransom, as it was collected.
The Chancellor had in his letter announcing the abduction stated that “we will use all lawful means to secure his speedy and safe release”, apparently this statement paid off.
While still in shock amidst the Ikulu Pari kidnapping incident, the terrorists again invaded the Kudenda community in Kaduna South Local Government Area and kidnapped the parish priest. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Reverend Fr. . Joseph Aketeh, and four others.
The kidnappers killed the security guard and another person. During the attack, an eyewitness Simon Dauda (not his real name) said the kidnappers invaded the community around 1:25 a.m. and carried out the evil acts. He said that apart from kidnapping the priest and four other people, they did not spare the life of the parish house security guard.
Dauda said: “The kidnappers arrived around 1:25 a.m. and they started shooting sporadically for more than 30 minutes, I arrived at the parish house a few minutes before 3 a.m., then the bandits had already taken the priest from the parish, I saw the corpse of the security man in the premises of the parish house.
“After removing the priest, the security guard came out to raise the alarm thinking that the bandits had already left, not knowing that some of the bandits were still behind and that’s how they shot him three The terrorists also attacked three houses in the community, a man was reportedly killed, and they left with his brother, they also abducted a woman and her two children.
The Dean of Romi Deanery, Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Rev. Andrew Dodo, who also confirmed the incident, said the terrorists did not demand ransom from anyone while calling on Nigerians to pray for the safe release of the abductees who are still in the kidnappers’ lair.
The traumatized leader of Zumuntan Matan of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Kudenda, Ms. Charity Gideon Achi said, “I was shocked when I heard the news. I heard the guard was also killed. I did not expect such a thing to happen in a residential area, to the point of taking lives. It’s sad.”
Gideon urged the federal and state governments to step up their efforts to save the father. Aketeh and others who are still in captivity, pointing out that the government can end insecurity in Nigeria if it wants to end it.
“The government should be sincere and act, it can do it. Why are they allowing these terrorists to kill us? Insecurity is not more than the government, it is their responsibility to protect us”.
Seemingly uncomfortable with the kidnapping of the Catholic priest, young people in the community took to the streets to protest the continued kidnappings in the state. They also sought to end the threat.
One of the protesters, Mr. Nyam Martins, said: “The government should allow us to defend ourselves since they cannot defend us. We want to sleep with both eyes closed.
It should be recalled that the Catholic priest of Kaduna, Reverend Father Alphonsus Bello Yanshim, who was on a mission in Katsina State was killed by bandits on May 21, 2021. He was abducted alongside the 75-year-old priest , Reverend Father. Joseph Keke. Again, Reverend Father Anthony Dawa was kidnapped from his residence at St. Pius Kushe Makaranta Catholic Church in Kargarko LGA on March 30, 2021. The bandits forcibly abducted the father. Dawa nails with a sharp object during his captivity before finally regaining his freedom. Also, Reverend Father Luka Benson Yakusak was abducted on September 14, 2021 from St. Matthew Catholic Church of Anchuna Ikulu, Zango Kataf LGA, three Catholic major seminarians were abducted from Christ the King Grand Seminary Chapel Fayit Fadan Kagoma Seminar at Jema’a LGA on October 12, 2021. Rev. Fr. John Shekwolo Bako was kidnapped over three years ago and his whereabouts are still unknown.
Speaking on the recurring kidnappings and killings in the country, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Reverend Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, described the situation as very unfortunate and disappointing.
He said: ‘It’s unfortunate where we’ve come to in this country, to have a leader sleeping on duty. I think that’s precisely what we can say we have a sleeping leader.
“For a few months now, there have been recorded cases of murders and yet we hear nothing from the commander-in-chief. Something is fundamentally wrong, all the things that are happening in this country have indicated that we are gradually heading towards a failed state.
He noted that the president should address the nation, amid rising cases of kidnapping and abduction in the country.
“We need to hear from our president what concrete steps he is taking to end this insecurity, we don’t want to hear from the spokesperson.
“We didn’t vote for a president who won’t talk to us; Nigerians did not elect the spokesperson. The presidents of civilized countries when two or three people are killed, you see them addressing the people and reassuring them. But here in Nigeria, we have a leader who doesn’t talk to us, who doesn’t care, who shows no sign of empathy towards the people. It’s disheartening,” he said.
He further noted that while there is no doubt that the security agencies are not relenting on their oars to stem the tide of kidnappings not only in Kaduna State but in the country as a whole, it is expected always a lot.
He said the question that demands answers is why the targets on Catholic priests?
“It is expected that we will not have to stress ourselves out looking for answers as to why and hoping that the recent kidnapping of the Catholic priest will be the last of these kidnappings of religious leaders,” he added.
Just recently, Governor Nasir el-Rufai unveiled grim details about the wave of insecurity that has held Kaduna State by the jugular. Receiving reports on the security challenges facing the state, compiled by Homeland Security and Home Affairs Commissioner Samuel Aruwan, the governor said Kaduna had lost 1,192 residents to bandit attacks in the entire state in 2021, while 3,348 citizens had been kidnapped.
The death figure represents an average of three residents per day in 2021. The report also shows that there is a 27.21% increase in deaths from 2020. A review of media reports of the 2021 murders shows that Kaduna is the second least safe state in the country. Nigeria after Zamfara which tops the list. Specifically, el-Rufai confirmed that an average of nine people were abducted daily over the past year.
The government’s annual report also gives 891 as the number of people who suffered various forms of injury in the attacks. Furthermore, in addition to the human losses, 13,788 cows were stolen in the 12 months covered by the report.
“The state has recorded 182 cases of destruction of farms either by cattle under the surveillance of itinerant herders or by herds stolen by bandits, who have destroyed farms, including in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, Kajuru, Jema’a, Kaura, Kauru and Zangon Local Councils of Kataf.
“The Kaduna Central Senatorial Area recorded the highest number of deaths with 720, followed by 406 in Kaduna South and 66 in Kaduna North. There were 340 children abducted, while 2,023 were males and 985 were females.
“Kaduna Central also led in the area of kidnappings with 2,771 kidnappings, while 397 citizens were kidnapped in the southern senatorial area and 180 in Kaduna North,” the report said.
