Cameroon’s Bamenda Archdiocese Demands Release of Last of Six Abducted Catholic Priests, Announces Escalating Measures

Bamenda, 24 November, 2025 / 10:31 PM

The Catholic Archdiocese of Bamenda has issued an ultimatum as the last of six abducted Catholic Priests, Fr. John Berinyuy Tatah, remains in captivity following a series of kidnappings by armed separatist fighters in the North West Region.

In a statement issued Sunday, November 23, Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea provides details of the series of abductions that began on November 15.

He says that on November 15, when the Parish Priest of Babessi and his Assistant were returning home from the Mass of the inauguration of the PAX University institute in Ndop, they were abducted by gunmen who claimed to be separatist fighters of ‘Ambazonia’, and taken to an unknown destination.

The kidnapping, Archbishop Nkea says, happened in an area referred to as Baba 1.

Describing a related incident of kidnapping, he says, “On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, 4 Priests and one lay person went down to look for the gunmen to try to discuss the release of the two Priests, but when they arrived there, the gunmen decided to detain all 7 of them.”

“On Thursday evening of 20 November 2025, the gunmen agreed to release the five Priests and the layman, but decided to hold back Fr. Tatah, and demanded a ransom,” the Catholic Archbishop further recounts.

Archbishop Nkea emphasizes, “We have made our position clear that the church never gives ransoms.”

“Today is Sunday, 23 November 2025, the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, and Fr. John has still not been released,” he added.

The Local Ordinary of Bamenda, who doubles as the President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), goes on to outline urgent measures aimed at securing the kidnapped Priest’s release.

“If by Wednesday, 26 November 2025, the captors have not released Fr. John, I request all the Priests, religious personnel from all Catholic Institutions in Ndop Deanery to close down the parishes, schools, and all other Catholic institutions and leave the Deanery till further notice,’ Archbishop Nkea says.

He adds, “This is because neither the Bishop nor the Christians whom they serve can guarantee the security of the Priests and the religious personnel in this Deanery. The Priests should remove the Blessed Sacrament from all Churches, chapels, and oratories and leave all tabernacles open.”

“If by Friday, 28 November 2025, Fr. John is still in captivity, the Archbishop, all the Priests, religious, and members of Christ's lay faithful of the Archdiocese will go down to Baba 1 and march to the place where Fr. John is being held, and either bring him back home, or remain there until he is released,” the Catholic Church leader says.

Cameroon’s English-speaking regions plunged into conflict in 2016 after a protest by lawyers and teachers turned violent. 

An armed movement of separatists seeking independence for the so-called republic of Ambazonia emerged following the government’s crackdown on protesters.

In his November 23 statement, Archbishop Nkea emphasizes that the “frequent kidnapping of our Priests and Mission personnel has pushed us to the wall, and we say that this should stop with immediate effect.”

“There are many lay people who have suffered a lot from kidnappings, torture, and violence within the Archdiocese of Bamenda, and we think these people need to live in tranquility and peace,” the Catholic Archbishop laments.

He also urges the military personnel “who are supposed to maintain law and order and ensure the security of the people, to be professional and ethical in their relationship towards the people and not exploit them by collecting money from them or torturing them in any way.”

Archbishop Nkea calls on all the stakeholders in this crisis, which is in its 9th Year, to do everything within their powers to dialogue and bring this crisis to an end. The people of the North West and South West Regions have suffered enough, and they deserve to have a quiet life and go about their activities peacefully.”

“May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace and Mother of the Church, intercede for us so that once again, peace may return to the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda,” the Archbishop of Bamenda implores.