There is panic in the Catholic community in Kaduna following the abduction of Reverend Father Emmanuel Ezema, a priest of the Zaria Diocese, who was whisked away by unknown gunmen late Tuesday night.
The Diocese of Zaria confirmed the disturbing development on Wednesday, in an official notice signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Isek Augustine.
The statement stated that Fr. Ezema was kidnapped around 11:30 pm from his residence at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Rumi, sending shock waves across the parish and the entire Christian community.
“We regret to officially announce the abduction of our priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ezema… We call on all men and women of goodwill to pray for the safe and quick release of our priest and others from the hands of their abductors,” the Diocese said.
The Church also invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, expressing hope that the priest would “return to us safe and sound.”
Recall that an Anglican priest who was in Kaduna last month was killed in captivity.
Archbishop Henry Ndakuba said Venerable Edwin Achi, who was seized with his wife and daughter from their home in Kaduna state on October 28, was murdered after spending about a month in captivity.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the tragic death of our beloved priest… who was brutally murdered after enduring a month-long abduction,” Ndakuba said in a statement late on Friday.
Gunmen initially demanded a ransom of 600 million naira ($416,000) for Achi’s release, later reducing it to 200 million naira, the church said. His wife and daughter remain in captivity. The police in Kaduna did not respond to requests for comment.
There has been a spike in terrorists, bandits and kidnapping attacks in Nigeria in the last two months, prompting the declaration of a national security emergency as part of the measures to address the situation.
Published by: Adetayo Omotoyosi Adeolu
