Some unknown gunmen have reportedly abducted two Catholic Priests in Niger State.
Reports obtained by OsunDailyNG revealed that the priests of St Luke’s Catholic Church, Gyedna, Garam Ward in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Fr Paul Sanogo and Seminarian Melchior, were kidnapped in the early hours of Thursday at their residence in Gyedna.
Confirming the development, the Catholic Bishop of Minna, Most Rev Dr Martin Igwe Uzoukwu, in a message he reportedly sent to church members and shared Daily Trust, noted that the two priests were pastoral workers at St Luke’s Catholic Church Gyedna.
It was gathered that the kidnappers invaded the area where the clerics’ resided and began to shoot sporadically for over an hour before they whisked away the two priests.
“On behalf of my Auxiliary Most Rev Sylvester Luka Gopep, the Priests and Religious of the Catholic Diocese of Minna, I request for your prayers for Fr Paul Sanogo (M.Afr) and Seminarian Melchior who were kidnapped by bandits in the early hours of August 3, 2023, at the priest residence at Gyedna, Niger State.
“Fr Paul Sanogo (M.Afr) and Seminarian Melchior are pastoral workers serving at St Luke’s Catholic Church Gyedna, Niger State. We pray the Lord hears our prayers and bring them back in peace,” a message reportedly sent to church members by Most Rev. Uzoukwu reads.
When contacted, the Niger State Police Command Spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the abduction saying the force tactical teams led by the DPO of Tafa Division had been dispatched to the scene.
“However, the location of the church was discovered to be on the outskirt of the town, which is about an hour’s drive from Sabon-Wuse, and surrounded by mountains and forest, close to Kagarko are of Kaduna state.
“Meanwhile, other seminarians therein have been advised to relocate temporarily while an investigation into the incident is ongoing with a view to rescuing the victims and arresting the perpetrators of the crime,” Abiodun told journalists.
