Two Catholic priests are known as Rev. Father Donatus Cleopa and Rev. Father John Mark Cheitnum have been kidnapped by a bandits group as they were carrying out some priesthood functions from parish to parish in the Gure area of Christ the King Catholic Church in Yadin Garu of Lere local government area Kaduna state Nigeria.
Vatican News reported that a Rev. Father known as Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo who is chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan in Kaduna state confirmed the kidnapping of the two Rev. Fathers by bandits and have asked for God to intervene on behalf of Christianity and priesthood. He then stated that the attacks on Christianity through Rev. Fathers by bandits groups in Nigeria are becoming alarming.
Rev. Father Emmanuel Uchechukwu also stated that the levels of Christians are living in a panic ever since the abduction and killing of Rev. Fathers started in Nigeria, especially in Kaduna and Edo state is something government and the security operatives in the country need to fight to make sure peace is maintained in every religion across the country. Catholic priests, members, and other Christians within the country are becoming afraid on daily bases to conduct their church services as insecurity among Christians is increasing.
Premiumtimesng reported that a man known as Mr. Okolo has called on all Christians especially the Catholic members within and outside the state to pray for the two kidnapped priests by bandits so that nothing will happen to them. In his statement, he believes that God will make the two priests abducted return in peace without any harm from the bandits. Mr. Okolo also stated that Christians should not retaliate so that they will not take laws into their hands but wait upon God and that of the government.
Christians across the country have been warned of their movement, especially during church night activities that they should be vigilant at all times. Since 2022, about 20 Catholic priests has being kidnapped while about few of them were released and three out of all were killed by the bandits who abduct them.
Meanwhile, during the time of filing this report, the president of Nigeria Mohammadu Buhari, and the security operatives are yet to look into the kidnapping of the two Catholic Church priests.
https://twitter.com/MobilePunch/status/1548208664682450945?s=20&t=CpIBWokacNC4L2o4VMeT7w
- MobilePunch
Following a Twitter account on the kidnapping of the two Catholic priests Rev. Father Donatus Cleopa and Rev. Father John Mark Cheitnum, a good number of citizens within and outside the country have condemned the kidnapping and have accused the government and security operatives in the country of not acting fast in protecting the lives of Christians in the country. Some persons through the Twitter account stated that Christians should not be forced to hold arms in the country because it will cause disaster in the country.
Sources:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/542948-two-catholic-priests-kidnapped-in-kaduna.html