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Abductors Demanding Ransom to Free Catholic Priest Kidnapped in Jos Archdiocese, Nigeria

Fr. James Kantoma, kidnapped from Nigeria's Jos Archdiocese on 12 June 2022. Credit: Courtesy Photo

By Jude Atemanke

Jos, 15 June, 2022 / 9:20 pm (ACI Africa).

Those behind the abduction of Fr. James Kantoma, a Catholic Priest serving in Nigeria's Jos Archdiocese, are demanding N50 million (US$119,800) in order to free him.

In a Monday, June 13 report, the Plateau State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Fr. Polycarp Lubo, confirmed the Sunday, June 12 abduction of  the Parish Priest of St. Anthony Parish of Jos Archdiocese, adding that the abductors “have made contacts” to discuss a ransom. 

“The Priest was abducted on Sunday (June 12) night at his house (St. Anthony Parish) within the community when the gunmen invaded the area, shooting sporadically and eventually capturing their victim to an unknown destination,” Fr. Lubo has been quoted as saying in the report. 

He adds in reference to the incident at Angware community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, “The abductors have made contacts and are demanding a ransom of N50 million before the Priest, who is also the chairman of CAN in the local government council, will be freed.”

On the same day of the abduction of the Parish Priest of St. Anthony Parish, Angware community in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, 

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The June 13 report also indicates that on the same day Fr. Kantoma was abducted, gunmen also kidnapped Rev. Oluwaseun Aderogba, the Anglican Bishop of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State, his wife, and driver. The latter were reportedly kidnapped along the new Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway in Oyo State.

Police Public Relations of the command, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a statement saying, “On Sunday 12/06/2022 at about 2100HRS, one Rev. Adekunle Adeluwa reported to the Command through an incident report at Atiba Divisional Police Headquarters, Oyo town that at about 20h30hours, one Bishop Rt. Rev Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State in the company of his wife and driver were abducted.”

He adds, “Preliminary investigations reveal that the victim’s vehicle developed what seemed a mechanical fault while traveling from Yewa, Ogun State to Jebba, Kwara State enroute an isolated area along New Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway.”

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

Since then, the group, one of largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups as well as civilians.

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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.

The latest abduction of Fr. Kantoma comes barely a week after another Catholic Priest, Fr. Christopher Itopa Onotu was abducted from his residence at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish of Lokoja Diocese in Nigeria.

Jude Atemanke

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.

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