“If the idea of the killing and abduction of Catholic Priests is to silence the Church, whoever is responsible for this evil has failed already. It won’t work.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
The question concentrating the minds of not a few Nigerians is why terrorists are decimating the clergy of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
What exactly is the crime of Catholic Priests?
This question acquired a new urgency on Monday when terrorists, yet again, in the early hours of today kidnapped another Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Silas, in Kauru local government area of Kaduna State.
The Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo, confirmed the development in a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna.
This is coming barely two weeks after another Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Vitus Vaishima Borogo, was killed by terrorists on his farm in Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia Road on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
Fr. Borogo, who was aged 50 years, was killed by the terrorists during a raid on a farm known as Prison Farm at Kujama.
Rev. Fr. Christian Emmanuel, the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, in a statement, said, “It is with a heavy heart, but with total submission to the will of God that we announce the death of Rev. Fr. Vitus Borogo, which sad event took place today (Saturday), at Prison Farm, Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia Road, after a raid on the farm by terrorists.”
The priest was laid to rest on June 30, 2022.
Announcing Fr. Silas’ abduction today, the Chancellor said, “It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of our Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Silas. The event occurred in the early hours of July 04, 2022, when he could not turn up for morning Mass.
“He was abducted from the parish rectory at St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“We solicit for intense prayer for his quick and safe release, we equally wish to call on all and sundry to refrain from taking the laws into their hands.
“We will use every legitimate means to ensure his quick and safe release.
“May Jesus crucified on the Cross, listen to our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of His Priest and all other kidnapped persons.”
Attacks on Catholic Churches and priests across the country by terrorists is on the increase even as President Muhammadu Buhari’s government continues to deny that Christians are being targeted by Islamic jihadists in the country.
Two Catholic priests, Rev. Father Udo of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Uromi, and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha, were similarly kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday.
The clerics were abducted along Benin-Auchi Expressway between Ehor and Iruekpen communities on Saturday night, the state police command said on Sunday.
The police statement signed by the spokesperson for the state command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said, “This is to confirm the kidnap of two Catholic Rev. Fathers; Rev. Fr. Udo Peter of St. Patrick Catholic Church Uromi and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Ugboha in Esan South East LGA of Edo State.”
Also on Sunday, June 26, 2022, gunmen killed Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, the priest in charge of St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo, in the Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
Odia was abducted from his home while he was preparing to leave for mass.
The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, in a statement last Sunday confirmed that the cleric had been killed.
The statement said, “With heavy hearts but with total submission to the will` of God, we announce the death of our priest Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, who was killed by his abductors after being kidnapped this morning, June 26, 2022, around 6.30 am in his rectory while coming out to go for Sunday mass at St. Michael Catholic Church Ikabigbo, Uzairue, Edo State.”
On Sunday, June 5, 2022, terrorists stormed St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State during service, killing well over 40 congregants.
Many others were injured during the deadly attack.
Before that deadly attack, on Wednesday, May 25, terrorists broke into the rectory of Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, in the Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, and kidnapped two Reverend Fathers and two boys.
Fr. Christopher Omotosho, the director of social communications at the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, who confirmed the incident in a statement, in the tradition of the Church urged the public to pray for the safe return of the abductees.
“As at midnight of today, 25th May, 2022, gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State,” Fr. Omotosho said.
”The parish priest and his assistant Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara and 2 other boys in the house were kidnapped.
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“No information as to their whereabouts. Kindly pray for their safety and release.”
They were only released on Sunday, June 26, one months after their abduction.
The Katsina abduction came two weeks after another Catholic priest was kidnapped in Akwa Ibom, South-South Nigeria.
Fr. Alphonsus Uboh was abducted from his parsonage at Saint Pius X Parish, Ikot Abasi Akpan, in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state, on May 9, with his abductors later demanding N100 million ransom.
The 48-year-old was freed four days later after his church paid an unspecified amount of ransom.
In March, two people were killed, while the Catholic Priest of St. John’s Catholic Church, Fr. Joseph Aketeh, a woman and her two children were abducted by terrorists in an attack on Kudendan, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis.
The terrorists were said to be in large number, well armed and operated for over an hour as they moved from one location to the other within the community.
“The terrorists were firing shots indiscriminately around the community. They went from one location to the other.
“It is like the St. John’s Catholic Church was one of their targets. They broke into the church and abducted Rev. Fr. Joseph Aketeh at his residence.
“The guard went into hiding when he saw them, but as they were leaving with the priest, they sighted him and killed him,” a source said then.
Many are wondering why Catholic clergy are the targets of attacks being some of the poorest in the comity of clergies.
“These are men who swore to an oath of celibacy, poverty and obedience. They have nothing and they own nothing. These are labourers in God’s vineyard and wherever they are sent to, they go. The cars they drive where such are available belong to the parish. When they are posted out, any priest who replaces him takes over.
“The house he lives in belongs to the parish. So, what is the attraction?” queried one priest who spoke anonymously.
Many Nigerians are worried that this may be an attempt to cow the Catholic Church and prevent it from condemning the evil in the land as Catholic Bishops do.
“If the idea of the killing and abduction of Catholic Priests is to silence the Church, whoever is responsible for this evil has failed already. It won’t work,” said Mr. Abayomi Ogundele, a parishioner at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland.
“The Catholic Church and Catholic Priests can never be cowed,” he asserted.