LAGOS AUGUST 17TH (NEWSRANGERS)-In recent years, a chilling wave of kidnappings and killings has swept through Nigeria, targeting Christian clergy, particularly Catholics.
These attacks have sent shockwaves through the Catholic community and the nation at large, sparking urgent questions about the motives behind these atrocities.
The Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Edo state, for example, has lived in a state of escalating fear and frustration amid persistent abductions and murders of their religious members.
On March 5 2025, the diocese in a statement by its Director of Communication, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, expressed worry over the surge in kidnappings and killings, lamenting that the senatorial district has become a business centre for kidnappers.
The statement followed the kidnapping of a Catholic priest identified as Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and a seminarian, Peter Andrew, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ivukwa, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.
The abductors later killed Andrew and freed father Ekeli after 10 days in captivity and torture.
On the same March 5, (Ash Wednesday) Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State was murdered a day after he was taken from his residence by kidnappers.
Also, on July 10, gunmen invaded the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, killing a Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) officer and abducted three seminarians.
Data by THE WHISTLER on March 24 showed that six Catholic religious faithful were kidnapped within January and March 2025. This incident and many others reported by THE WHISTLER, has many asking: why are Catholics clergy the target of these kidnappers?
When contacted by THE WHISTLER, the former legal adviser of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Barr. Samuel Kwamkur, stated that though it may seem challenging to pinpoint a single reason that is attracting this act to the Catholic community, there are several factors that may contribute to why they seem to be a target for kidnappers.
Kwamkur pointed out that Catholics have a very high population and that could be one of the reasons they are always targeted, highlighting places like Benue, Kaduna, Edo to have high numbers of Catholics, hence the continuous attack.
He also noted the fact that Catholic leadership is prominent in most places which makes them visible and vulnerable to the kidnappers as they always go for people of more pronounced names.
“The fact that the leadership of Catholicism is prominent in most places, sometimes when you touch somebody that has a name, it will be more pronounced. But in a little sense, a lot of people have been kidnapped, like you said, particularly the Christian areas,” he said.
Speaking further, he spotlighted that Catholics have been prominent in making their position known to the country.
He noted that recently, Catholic bishops have been more vocal than ever, calling for sincerity of purpose and urging the nation to address insecurity issues.
The Whistlers
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