Again, suspected terrorists have kidnapped two Catholic priests, Rev Fr John Cheitnum and Rev Fr Donatus Cleopas, on their way to a function in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Rev Fr Emmanuel Okolo, said in a statement that the kidnap occurred on Friday evening.
This is as the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union said the State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, should be blamed for the “war” waged against priests and Christian communities in Southern Kaduna
The incident came less than a week after the remains of a slain priest, Rev Fr Vitus Borogo, who was killed by terrorists on a farm, were buried in the state capital on Thursday.
Borogo was killed on June 25, 2022, while his brother, CY Borogo, was kidnapped, sparking protests among priests in the Kaduna archdiocese who wiekded placards to vent their anger over the deteriorating level of security across the country, especially in Kaduna.
The chancellor of Kafanchan Diocese, in the statement, said, “It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of two of our priests; Rev Frs John Cheitnum and Donatus Cleopas. We solicit intense prayer for their quick and safe release. We equally wish to call on all and sundry to refrain from taking the laws into their hands. We will use every legitimate means to ensure their quick and safe release.
“May Jesus crucified on the cross listen to our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of His priests and all other kidnapped persons.”
However, while condemning the incident, SOKAPU lamented that Kaduna remained the most dangerous for Catholic priests following the unacceptable level of abduction of clergymen in the state.
It also urged the Pope to wade into the action, using a global platform to secure the lives of priests in the state.
Its spokesperson, Luka Binniyat, said, “The assault on the Catholic Church in Southern Kaduna and, indeed, in other parts of Nigeria, through rampant kidnapping of priests and sundry violence, is an organised crime against the most formidable and organised part of the Christendom in Nigeria by agents of darkness.
“SOKAPU condemns the obvious nonchalance of the government to this evil and its curious silence in the wake of these crimes, especially in Kaduna State. We hold no one responsible for the war waged against our priests and, indeed, Southern Kaduna Christian communities but the government of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Major General Mohammadu Buhari. Southern Kaduna is now the most dangerous place for anyone to be a Catholic priest. We call on our Holy Father, the Pope, in Rome to take this matter very seriously at the global level to secure our priests.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, promised to call back when our correspondent called him to confirm the abduction of the clerics.
However, Jalige had yet to do so and did not pick up subsequent calls as of the time of filing this report.
