BANDITS have kidnapped another priest of the Catholic Church in the Kauru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
The victim, Emmanuel Silas, is attached to the St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the priest was kidnapped in the early hours of Monday.
This is coming less than two weeks after the priest in charge of the Kaduna Polytechnic Catholic community, Vitus Borogo, was killed on his farm at Kujama, in Chikun LGA, also in Kaduna State.
The Chancellor of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Emmanuel Okolo, confirmed Silas’ abduction in a statement released in Kaduna on Monday.
He said the priest was abducted from the parish rectory of the church.
Okolo said the Diocese would adopt any legitimate means to ensure the quick and safe release of the cleric.
“It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of our Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Silas. The event occurred in the early hours of July 04, 2022, when he could not turn up for morning Mass.
“He was abducted from the parish rectory at St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“We solicit an intense prayer for his 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 his quick and safe release.
“May Jesus crucified on the Cross, listen to our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of His Priest and all other kidnapped persons.”
Barely a week before the incident, bandits abducted and killed another Catholic priest, Christopher Odia of St. Michael Catholic Church, lkhabigbo in Etsako LGA of Edo State.
Two other Catholic priests in Edo State, identified as Peter Udo of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi, and Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha in Esan South East LGA, were also kidnapped on Saturday night around Ehor and Iruekpen communities along the Benin-Auchi Expressway.
A reporter with the ICIR
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