Nigeria: Catholic priests killed in Edo and Kaduna

0

The Catholic Dioceses of Auchi and Kaduna mourn the death of Fr. Christopher Odia and Fr. Vitus Borogo, who were killed in Nigeria’s Edo and Kaduna States over the weekend.

By Benedict Mayaki SJ

A Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria – Fr. Christopher Odia – was killed by kidnappers on Sunday.

The tragic news was announced in a statement signed by Fr. Peter Egielewa, the director of social communications for the diocese.

“With heavy hearts but with total submission to the will of God, we announce the death of our priest, the Rev. Christopher Odia, who was killed by his captors after being abducted this morning, June 26, 2022, around 6:30 a.m. from his rectory.

The statement notes that the priest was abducted on his way to Sunday Mass at St. Michael Ikabigbo Catholic Church, Uzairue, Edo State.

Prof. Odia was the Administrator of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Ikabigbo, Etsako West Local Government Area, as well as the Principal of St. Philip Jattu Catholic Secondary School.

He was 41 and was ordained a priest in 2012.

Priest killed in Kaduna

In a related development, gunmen suspected of being terrorists killed another priest, Fr. Vitus Borogo, in Kaduna State.

The tragic incident reportedly happened at Prison Farm, Kujana along Kaduna-kachia road in Chikun local government area on Saturday.

Until his murder, 50-year-old Fr Borogo was the Catholic Community Chaplain at Kaduna State Polytechnic and the President of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCPDA), Kaduna State Chapter.

A statement from Fr. Christian Emmanuel, Chancellor of Kaduna Diocese, said: “It is with a heavy heart, but with total submission to the will of God that we announce the passing of Reverend Fr. Vitus Borogo, whose sad event took place today (Saturday), at Prison Farm, Kujama, along the Kaduna-Kachia road, after a raid on the farm by terrorists.





Prof. Vitus Borogo

The bishop of the diocese, Mgr. Reverend Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, also offered his condolences to the father’s immediate family. Borogo, the Kaduna Polytechnic NFCS family, and the entire Kaduna Polytechnic community, assuring them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.

“In the meantime, we entrust his soul to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and call on all men and women of good will to continue to pray for the peaceful repose of his soul and for the consolation of his bereaved family, in especially his mother,” the statement read.

Prof. Borogo is the second priest to die at the hands of bandits in Kaduna in the past two months. In May, another priest, Fr. Joseph Bako died in the custody of his captors.

Two other kidnapped priests are freed

Separately, two Catholic priests, Fr. Pr. Stephen Ojapa and Fr. Oliver Okpara, kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna State, Nigeria, have been released.

The priests were abducted in the early hours of May 25, when unidentified gunmen stormed the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo in Katsina state.

Two other people abducted with the priests have also been released.

A statement released by Fr. Chris Omotosho, director of social communications for the Diocese of Sokoto, announced the return of the priests and the other two.

“With hearts full of joy, we announce that our brothers, Fr. Stephen Ojapa, Fr. St. Patrick Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State all won freedom,” the statement read.

“We thank you for your prayers, your support, your encouragement and your demonstration of love. Praise the name of the Lord, now and forever. Amen.”

Share.

Comments are closed.