Gunmen storms Catholic Church in Katsina, abducts two priests

Four persons, including two priests, were early hours of Wednesday abducted at a Catholic Church by gunmen in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria.

The clergymen are the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Father Stephen Ojapa and his assistant, Father Oliver Okpara, along with two of their visitors, all boys.

The Catholic parishes in Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto states are all overseen by Most Rev Father Matthew Hassan Kukah as the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese.

The Director, Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho, confirmed the development to reporters on Wednesday morning.

Omotosho said: “As at midnight of today, 25th May, 2022, gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State.

“The parish priest and his assistant Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara and two boys in the house were kidnapped.

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“No information as to their whereabouts. Kindly pray for their safety and release.”

Although police authorities in Katsina were yet to confirm the incident as at the time of this report, residents said the gunmen stormed the community in their numbers but this time without motorcycles.

The police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, said the command has not received any report regarding the incident. He, however, assured that details of the incident will be communicated soon.

This attack is coming barely one day after gunmen killed at least twelve people at Gakurdi village in Jibia Local Government Area of the state.

They also burnt farmlands belonging to the villagers during the early morning operation that lasted hours.