Nigerian Catholic Priest Who Escaped Nine-day Captivity “responding well to medication”

Having escaped from his abductors, Fr. Bakeni said, no ransom seems to have been paid to secure the release of his Priest colleague.

Fr. Juma secured his freedom a couple of days after his colleague, in an interview with ACI Africa, appealed for prayers for his “quick and safe release.”

“He spent the night in Biu Local Government Area before proceeding on his journey the following day (Wednesday, June 30) along Biu-Damaturu when he was abducted,” Fr. Bakeni told ACI Africa July 6 in reference to Fr. Juma, adding, “There has not been any official communication with those that abducted the Priest.”

Fr. Juma’s abduction was one of the latest in a series of kidnappings that seem to target Christians, including Catholic Priests in the West African nation.

Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009 when Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country, Africa’s most populous nation, into an Islamic State.

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Since then, the militia, one of largest Islamic sects in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets.

The insecurity situation in the country has further been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia, who have been clashing frequently with Christian farmers over grazing land.

In the July 6 interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Bakeni reflected on the situation of insecurity in the country saying, “We need all the prayers at this time and the international community to assist our government and our security agencies where possible to stop this menace.”

“Continue to pray for us,” the member of the Clergy of Nigeria’s Maiduguri Diocese further said.

Catholic Bishops in the West African nation have repeatedly called on the government to put in place strict measures to protect her citizens.

“Insecurity, clearly evident in widespread loss of lives and property, has left the impression that the country’s leaders are either unable – or worse still, unwilling – to take up the responsibilities of their office,” the members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) said in their statement issued February 23.

As a way forward, the Catholic Bishops in Nigeria recommended "a formal meeting of statesmen and women across the board for us to think through the challenges that seem poised to push us into the abyss."