A group of unknown gunmen has invaded a Roman Catholic Church in North-Western Nigeria and kidnapped two priests. According to reports made by the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, the reverend fathers, along with two other members of their household—a brother and his sister—were spirited away in the middle of Wednesday night.
The kidnapping took place at the St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kafur Local Government Area, Katsina State; a location that falls under the purview of the Sokoto Diocese. Included in the diocese’s domain are four states in North-West Nigeria, namely: Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states where the incident occurred.
According to a statement made by Rev. Fr Chris Omotosho, the Sokoto Diocese Director of Communications, the gunmen broke into the house of St Patrick’s Catholic Church at midnight, and both the parish priest and his assistant, Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, (MSP) and Oliver Okpara as well as a boy and a girl living with the two in their house were kidnapped.
According to Rev. Omotosho despite efforts by the local youth and security agents in the village to track them down, so far no trace of the missing persons has been uncovered. He also added that the matter had been reported to the police as well who through their Spokesperson SP Gambo confirmed the kidnapping and said that they had swung into action.
