Gunmen Kidnapped two Catholic priests in Sokoto, with 2 others

Early Wednesday Gunmen invade into one of the Parishes Presided over by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Hassan Kukah.

It was gathered that the armed hoodlums kidnapped two Priests and two others in the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo in the Kafur Local  Government Area in Katsina State.

Gunmen Kidnapped two Catholic priests in Sokoto, with 2 others

It was at midnight of today 25 May 2022, they broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and kidnapped the Parish Priest and his assistant Rev. Frs Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara together with two boys in the house.

Bishop Kukahs Sokoto Diocese covers Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States.
Rev. Fr Chris Omotosho, the Director Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, said there’s no information about the abductees whereabout yet.

“No information as to their whereabouts. Kindly pray for their safety and release.”
The spokesman for Katsina State Police Command, Gambo Isah, said “Let’s me find out“

On 14 May, rampaging hoodlums torched and vandalized some parishes presided over by Kukah in Sokoto following his condemnation of the gruesome murder of a 200L student Deborah Yakubu by follow student who accused her of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.

The move had come under strong condemnation from several quarters including form the Sokoto Catholic Dioceses presiding Bishop, Reverend Father Mathew Hassan Kukah.

This new attack is another assault on the Diocese which may now need to take stock on what to do next.

The rioters also burnt some parts of Kukahs Church buildings and set a bus ablaze on one of the premises.  The Sokoto religious tainted riot has extended to some parts of Bauchi and Abuja in the last few days while security agents and some northern governors have warned against religious violence.