The death of another priest in northern Nigeria has prompted a Christian leader to demand authorities take decisive action to address the kidnapping and murder of Church members.
Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi of Kafanchan told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) there had been at least one violent death in his diocese every year since 2021.
The bishop spoke out following the abduction of Father Sylvester Okechukwu from his home in Tachira, Kaduna State on the evening of Ash Wednesday (4th March).
He was found dead in the early hours of the following day. It is still unclear why his kidnappers murdered him.
Bishop Kundi said: “The diocese is engulfed in anguish, and the land is heavy with anger.
“How long shall our pastors and brethren be hunted like prey? How long shall our places of worship become grounds for fear instead of sanctuaries of hope?”
He repeated the call for authorities to act swiftly to ensure security in Kaduna State that he made at a press conference last Friday (7th March).
The prelate said: “We demand that the government and security agencies take immediate and decisive action to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.
“The blood of Father Sylvester Okechukwu and all other innocent souls cries out for justice.”
Bishop Kundi added: “With deep sorrow and righteous indignation, I condemn in the strongest terms the relentless and tragic wave of kidnappings targeting priests, pastoral agents and the faithful of our diocese.”
He called the ongoing attacks “a cruel assault on our faith, our humanity and the peace of our state”.
The bishop went on to remember those who have been killed, including catechist Raymond Ya’u in 2021, Father Mark Cheitnum in 2022 and seminarian Naaman Ngofe in 2023.
Abductions are also rife, catechist Istifanus Katunku who was kidnapped last year remains missing, and Bishop Kundi told ACN that yesterday he received the news of the abduction of about six parishioners from St Mathew’s Church, Anchuna including the wife of a catechist.
Following the death of Father Sylvester Okechukwu, the Christian Association of Nigeria issued a statement saying: “This heinous crime further highlights the alarming insecurity in our nation, particularly in northern Nigeria, where innocent citizens, including clergy members, are repeatedly targeted, abducted, and killed with impunity.”
ACN has provided security for vulnerable churches and seminaries in Nigeria, including a security wall for the Good Shepherd Seminary, Kaduna where four seminarians were kidnapped in 2020.
