Two Catholic priests kidnapped in northern Nigeria

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31/05/2022 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – On May 25, two Catholic priests from Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Katsina State in Nigeria were abducted around 1:00 a.m. Their names are Father Stephen Ojapah and Father Oliver Okpara. Two unidentified members of Saint Patrick were also seized at the same time.

Father Chris Osmotosho, director of communications for the Diocese of Sokoto, said the fate of the priests and members of the parish is currently unknown and asked for prayer.

It is also unclear whether the kidnappers were affiliated with a militant organization, such as Boko Haram or other Islamic extremist groups. They were described as “terrorists” and “bandits” in large numbers who fired numerous shots before capturing their prisoners.

Gambo Isah, a local police spokesman, said the police had not received any information about the kidnapping or ransom demand from the kidnappers.

For the past two years, Katsina State in northern Nigeria has been plagued by violence and kidnappings. In 2020, Boko Haram abducted around 700 students from a secondary school in Katsina, and in 2021 armed militants abducted nine students from the Islamic seminary. On Tuesday there was another attack in Katsina, in the village of Gakurdi, during which twelve people were killed and agricultural land was burned.

Please pray for the safe return of the bishops and the protection of the Lord over the parish.

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