Media reported that gunmen belonging to kidnapping and cattle-rustling gangs – called bandits by locals. Kaduna State in Nigeria is one of the worst affected by banditry. The insecurity situation has been further worsened by the clashes between the nomadic herdsmen, predominantly from the Fulani tribe, and the more stable pastoral farming over water and grazing land. According to a statement by Aid to the Church in Need, at least 18 priests had been kidnapped in Nigeria as of July, with five in the first week of July alone. At least 536 Nigerians were killed by terrorists in the first three months of 2022. Nigeria has been battling an insecurity challenge since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009. The priest was kidnapped as he was returning to his parish residence after celebrating a funeral Mass. The last such reported abduction was of Father Joseph Igweagu from the Archdiocese of Onitsha in Anambra State, October 16. Nigeria has been facing a series of priest being kidnapped and sometimes killed. At least 18 priests had been kidnapped in Nigeria as of July Reverend Joseph Hayeb, president of the Kaduna section of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said, "We live in a very sad situation because many things are happening in the state that are not reported." He urged the government to do more to protect citizens from the criminals who terrorize them, even as Nigerian authorities say that they are employing urgent measures to ensure better protection of the lives and properties of citizens. The chancellor also called for prayers and support of the Christian faithful as well as all men and women of goodwill that "God almighty will take control of the situation, preserve our priest and bring him back to us in one piece." Bernard Church, Idon Gida, in the Kachia local government but had lived in the parish of St. The chancellor told local media that Father Kunat is the parish priest of St. Mulumba, Kurmin Sara, where he had been residing due to the insecurity situation in the area. Father Christian Okewu Emmanuel, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kaduna to which the kidnapped priest belonged said Father Kunat was abducted at 12:30 am from St. Bernard Church in the local government area of Kachia in Kaduna State was kidnapped by armed men around midnight November 8. A Catholic priest has kidnapped in northern Nigeria's restive Kaduna State where Islamic jihadist groups have unleashed a wave of anti-Christian violence.įather Abraham Kunat, parish priest of St.
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