Joy in Nigeria’s Yola Catholic Diocese after Successful “rescue” of Two Priests Abducted from Parish Rectory

Bishop Mamza expresses gratitude for the spiritual solidarity of the people of God, saying, “Your prayers have been a beacon of hope and light that guided us through the moment of darkness as a result of this unprovoked abduction of our brothers.”

In a statement following the abduction of Fr. Matthew and Fr. Abraham, Bishop Mamza has sought prayers for the “safe return” of the duo. 

“The Catholic Diocese of Yola fervently requests prayers for their safe return,” he had appealed in his February 23 statement in which he explained how “armed kidnappers arrived at the Parish Rectory during the early hours of Saturday (February 22), armed with offensive weapons, and proceeded to abduct the Clerics.”

Insecurity is rife in Nigeria, where kidnappings, murder and other forms of persecution against Christians remain rampant in many parts of the West African country, especially in the north.

On March 5, Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan was murdered, a day after his abduction on March 4.

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On the day Fr. Sylvester was kidnapped, the Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Nigeria also sent out a prayer appeal for the release of a Priest and a major Seminarian who had been abducted from a Parish Rectory the previous day. The two are still missing.

The rescue of Fr. Matthew, a member of the Clergy of Yola Diocese, and Fr.  Abraham of Nigeria’s Jalingo Catholic Diocese follows a series of killings and  kidnappings that have targeted Priests in Africa’s most populous nation.

On February 6, Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak, a member of the Clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Shendam and student at Veritas University Abuja in Nigeria was abducted and later escaped from captivity. 

Later, on February 19, Fr. Moses Gyang Jah of St. Mary Maijuju Parish of Shendam Diocese was abducted alongside his niece and the Parish Council Chairman, Mr. Nyam Ajiji. The Parish Council Chairman was reportedly killed. Fr. Jah and his niece are yet to be freed.

Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009 when Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state.