Terrorists Kill Catholic Priest, Abduct Another In Northwest Nigeria
A Catholic priest has been killed and another kidnapped during an attack on a Catholic church in Katsina State.
A Catholic priest identified as Alphonsus Bello was found dead on Friday, May 21, 2021 on the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria said.
The parish is part of Sokoto diocese under Bishop Matthew Kukah.
Bello was kidnapped from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church located in Malumfashi alongside another priest, Joe Keke during an attack by a terror group numbering about 15 before he was killed.
In a statement obtained by HumAngle from the Catholic secretariat in Abuja, the Director of Communications for Sokoto diocese, Chris Omotosho, further announced the incident.
He said the attack was carried out at about 11.30 p.m. WAT on Thursday and that Alphonsus Bello, until his death, was the parish priest of St. Vincent, while Joe Keke 75, was a priest in residence.
The whereabouts of Joe Keke is still unknown at the moment, and no contact has so far been made, the Catholic Secretariat said.
According to a Channel Television report, the terror group attacked the church compound and moved straight to the residences of the two priests situated inside the church compound.
The deceased, Alphonsus Bello initially resisted attempts by the terrorists to abduct him after which he was overpowered.
This recent incident is not the first time a Catholic priest has been killed.
In March 2021, a Catholic priest and at least six others were killed by an armed group in an attack on St. Paul’s Catholic Churchthe Diocese of Katsina-Ala in Benue State, North-central Nigeria.
The Benue State attack came days after another Nigerian priest, Fr. Harrison Egwuenu of the diocese of Warri, Delta State, Southsouth Nigeria was released after a week-long abduction by an armed group.
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