Bandits abduct Catholic priest in Kaduna

Bandits, connected Sunday, abducted the presiding clergyman of St. Thomas Parish, Zaman Dabo Community, successful the Zango Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Rev. Father Gabriel Ukeh, a connection from the religion authorities has said.

Vicar General (Pastoral), Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kazah, successful the property statement, condemned the abduction of the priest, calling connected the authorities to amended connected the nation’s security.

The connection read, “While we solicit fervent prayers for his urgent and harmless release, we arsenic condemn this enactment of incessant kidnappings for ransom of guiltless and defenseless citizens of our communities, and we telephone upon the authorities to hone its information quality arsenic we attack the solemnisation of Sallah.

“As we enactment with information operatives for his speedy release, we privation to telephone connected each to enactment distant from taking the laws into their hands. We volition usage each morganatic means to guarantee that Fr. comes backmost to america harmless and sound.

“Through the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Priests and Religious, whitethorn Jesus the crucified hearken to our prayers and hasten the unconditional merchandise of His Priest and each different abducted person.”

Father Ukeh is the latest Catholic clergyman to beryllium kidnapped by bandits.

In May 2024, a clergyman attached to the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Very Rev. Oliver Buba, was abducted by gunmen successful Adamawa State.

Buba was abducted astatine St. Rita’s Catholic Church successful Bare assemblage successful the Numan Local Government Council of the state. He has since regained his freedom.

Also successful May, gunmen kidnapped an Anambra-based clergyman of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo.

Gbuzuo, a Catholic clergyman of the Units Archdiocese, was said to person been kidnapped astatine astir 8 a.m. on the Eke Nkpor-Obosi Bypass portion connected a journey.

The improvement came hardly 1 period aft helium was listed successful a work arsenic 1 of the apical 10 richest Catholic priests successful Nigeria.

Father Gbuzuo yet regained his merchandise precisely 8 days aft his kidnap.