Two priests and three others kidnapped in the Rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State, North West Nigeria on May 25, 2022, have been released.
Reverend Father Christopher Omotosho, Director of Social Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, confirmed this development in a statement issued on Sunday, June 26.
The statement listed those released to include the father. Stephen Ojapa, P. Oliver Okpara, Mr. Hassan Hassan and Ms. Ummie Hassan.
“With hearts full of joy, we announce that our brothers Fr. Stephen Ojapa, Fr. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State, have all been released,” 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! Thank you!” he added.
Meanwhile, suspected terrorists killed two other Catholic priests in Kaduna (north-west) and Edo State, south-south Nigeria respectively, on SaturdayJune 26 and SundayJune 27, 2022.
On Sunday, June 26, 2022, Christopher Odia, the Trustee of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ikabigbo, Etsako West LGA, and the Principal of St. Philip’s Catholic Secondary School in Jattu, Edo State, were abducted and then killed by terrorists.
According to a source, the terrorists shot and injured one of the community members looking for the Reverend Father. The terrorists also killed two other local security personnel during the mission.
“The kidnappers came with sophisticated weapons and took the Reverend Father away as he was preparing for morning mass. It was sad. One of the boys who tried to search for the cleric was shot, and he is currently in hospital,” the source said. said.
On Saturday June 25, 2022, another Catholic priest, Rev. Vitus Borogo, was killed by suspected terrorists along the Kaduna-Kachia road.
According to Father Christian Emmanuel, Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, the 50-year-old priest killed was a chaplain to the Catholic community of Kaduna.
“It is with a heavy heart, but with total submission to the will of God that we announce the death of the Rev. Vitus Borogo, whose sad event took place today (Saturday), at Prison Farm, Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia road, after a raid on the farm by terrorists,” he said.
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