Two Priests of St Luke’s Catholic Church, Gyedna, Garam Ward in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Fr Paul Sanogo and Seminarian Melchior have been kidnapped.
The priests were kidnapped in the early hours of Thursday at their residence in Gyedna.
Residents revealed that the kidnappers shot into the air for over an hour before they abducted their victims.
The Catholic Bishop of Minna, Most Rev Martin Igwe Uzoukwu in a message to church members, said both priests work at St Luke’s Catholic Church Gyedna.
According to the message: “On behalf of my Auxiliary Most Rev Sylvester Luka Gopep, the Priests and Religious of the Catholic Diocese of Minna, I request for your prayers for Fr Paul Sanogo (M.Afr) and Seminarian Melchior who were kidnapped by bandits in the early hours of August 3, 2023 at the priest residence at Gyedna, Niger State.
“We pray the Lord hears our prayers and bring them back in peace.”
The State Police Spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun said police teams led by the DPO of Tafa Division had been dispatched to the scene.
“However, the location of the church was discovered to be on the outskirts of the town, which is about an hour drive from Sabon-Wuse, and surrounded with mountains and forest, close to Kagarko area of Kaduna state.
“Meanwhile, other seminarians therein have been advised to relocate temporarily while investigation into the incident is ongoing with a view to rescuing the victims and arrest the perpetrators of the crime,” he said.
