All Three Seminarians Abducted from Nigerian Major Seminary Freed

By Jude Atemanke

Kafanchan, 13 October, 2021 / 9:15 pm (ACI Africa).

The three Major Seminarians pursuing their studies in Theology in Nigeria’s Kafanchan Diocese who were abducted Monday, October 11 after their seminary came under attack have been released, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese has confirmed.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa Wednesday, October 13, Fr. Emmanuel Uche Okolo announces the safe release of all the three Seminarians, and expresses gratitude to all who prayed for their safe release.

“Barely 48 hours after their kidnap, our beloved brothers were released by their abductors,” Fr. Okolo says in the statement.

Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese adds, “With hearts filled with joy, we raise our voices in a symphony of praises as we announce the return of our Three Major Seminarians, who were abducted by armed persons from the Chapel of the Seminary at Christ the King Major Seminary, Fayit Fadan Kagoma in Jema'a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Monday 11 October 2021.”

Six seminarians “sustained various degrees of injuries” following the attack, Fr. Okolo said while announcing the seminarians’ kidnap on October 12, and added that those who had been injured were treated and discharged after being confirmed to be stable.

In his statement announcing the release of the three Seminarians belonging to the Apostles of Divine Charity and the Little Sons of the Eucharist Congregations, Fr. Okolo expresses gratitude to “all those that have offered prayers and entreaties for the quick release of our Seminarians and Others who are still in the dens of their kidnappers.”

The three seminarians (C) who were released Oct. 13, 2021 by their captors, between Fr. Emmanuel Faweh Kazah, rector of the St Albert Institute, and Fr Jonah Yabanad Stephen, rector of Christ the King Major Seminary./ Aid to the Church in Need International

“We pray to God to hasten the release of those who are still in the hands of their Captors,” Fr. Okolo further says, and appeals to “all our Priests to kindly celebrate Mass of THANKSGIVING to God tomorrow, Thursday 14th October 2021, for the quick and safe release of our Seminarians.”

“May Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for us and all those that are still in captivity,” the Nigerian Priest implores in his October 13 statement shared with ACI Africa.

Nigeria has been grappling with insecurity since 2009 when the Boko Haram insurgency began targeted attacks with the aim of turning Africa's most populous nation into an Islamic State.

The situation of insecurity has been further 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.

The attack on Christ the King Major Seminary is the latest of the attacks that seem to target Church institutions and Clergy in Africa’s most populous nation.

In January 2020, armed men attacked the Good Shepherd Major Seminary within the Archdiocese of Kaduna and abducted four Major Seminarians.

One of the Seminarians, Michael Nnadi, was murdered by the kidnappers reportedly because he could not stop announcing the Christian faith in captivity.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.