The Dioceses of Uromi and Kafanchan, respectively, call for prayer for the speedy and safe release of the Fathers. Peter Udo and Philemon Oboh, who were abducted by armed persons on Saturday in Edo State, and for Fr. Emmauel Silas, who was abducted on Monday in Kaduna.
By Fr. Benoît Mayaki, SJ
Two Catholic priests were abducted over the weekend in Edo state, in the latest case of kidnappings of clergy in Nigeria, where authorities have waged a long-running fight against insecurity.
According to reports, armed men abducted Fr. Peter Udo from St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Uromi, Esan North East, and Fr. Philemon Oboh from St Joseph’s Retreat Center, Ugboha, in the region of local government of Esan Sud-Est on Saturday, after attacking the car they were traveling in along the Benin-Ekpoma highway.
It was reported that the priests had been on a program in Benin and were on their way back to Uromi when the incident happened.
This latest kidnapping comes barely a week after another Catholic priest, Fr. Christopher Odia, was kidnapped and killed by his captors in the same condition.
Search for kidnapped priests
Confirming the report of the abduction, a spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command said that “the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugboha Police Division called to inform that a Reverend Father Amos Abhulimen went to the station on Saturday to report the kidnapping of the two Reverend Fathers.
“Based on the report,” the spokesperson said, “State Police Commissioner Abutu Yaro dispatched a team of police officers to back up the men from Ugboha Division to rescue the two healthy Catholic priests. safe and retrieve the kidnappers. arrested.”
Another priest kidnapped in Kafanchan
In another similar development, the Diocese of Kafanchan announced the kidnapping of Fr. Emmanuel Silas, who was arraigned in the early hours of Monday.
A statement signed by Fr. Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo, Chancellor of the Diocese of Kafanchan, said, “It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of our priest, Rev. Fr. Emmauel Silas. The sad event is believed to have happened in the early hours of July 4, 2022, when he was unable to turn up for morning mass.
According to the statement, Fr. Silas was abducted from the parish rectory of St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The chancellor called for prayers for the father’s ‘swift and safe release’. Silas, and assured that the diocese would use all legitimate means to secure the release of the priest.
“May Jesus crucified on the Cross hear our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of his priest and all other kidnapped people,” the statement read.
