News
Over 200 Catholic priests kidnapped, 20 killed in Nigeria in 10 years + (List of Victims)
Over 200 Catholic priests and seminarians have been kidnapped across 26 dioceses and archdioceses in Nigeria in the last 10 years, with no fewer than 20 of them killed by their abductors.
The chilling figures are contained in a document obtained by News Express from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, entitled “STATISTICS OF KIDNAPPED CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN NIGERIA IN THE LAST TEN YEARS 2015 – 2025”.
The document broke down the list of victims, indicating their dioceses, as well as those kidnapped and released, those kidnapped but escaped, those kidnapped and killed, and those still with their abductors.
The North-West and North Central regions – Kaduna, Minna, Kafanchan, and Sokoto – account for the most number of victims, with over 50 cases of priestly abductions recorded. Kaduna Archdiocese alone witnessed the brutal killing of four priests.
Next is the South-East, with dioceses like Okigwe and Ekwulobia recording large number of kidnappings, with some priests abducted multiple times – one as many as three times.
The South-South comes third, with Edo, Delta, and Rivers states reporting frequent cases.
In terms of dioceses, Okigwe leads with 24 reportedly kidnapped, out of which 23 names were listed, followed by Port Harcourt Diocese with 14 kidnapped, and Nsukka Diocese with 13 abducted.
Read details below:
“STATISTICS OF KIDNAPPED CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN NIGERIA IN THE LAST TEN YEARS 2015 – 2025”:
ZARIA DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Rev. Fr. Felix Fidson Zakari
WUKARI DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr Moses Angyian
2. Fr Thaddeus Tarhembe
SOKOTO DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr Micah Yakubu Suleiman
2. Fr. Oliver Opara
3. Fr. Ojapah Stephen MSP
Kidnapped and Killed
4. Fr Alphonsus Bello (Fidei Donum Priest from Archdiocese of Kaduna) was killed by abductors
5. Bro. Micheal Mnadi (Seminarian) was killed by abductors
KAFANCHAN DIOCESE
Kidnapped and returned safe
1. Fr. Andrew Anana
2. Fr. Cleopas Donatus
3. Fr. Gabriel Uke
4. Fr. John Magnus
5. Fr. Joseph Shekari
6. Fr. Emmanuel Silas
7. Fr. Bulus Benson
Kidnapped and killed
8. Fr. John Mark Chetnum
9. Fr. Okechukwu Sylvester
WARRI DIOCESE
Kidnapped and returned safe
1. Fr. Emmanuel Obadjere
2. Fr. Joseph Ojakorotu
3. Fr. Christopher Ogaga
4. Fr. Harrison Egwunu
5. Fr. Peter Dedekuma
6. Fr. Raphael Ogigbah
Kidnapped and later died
7. Fr. Louis Odudu
IDAH DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released safe
1. Rev. Innocent Enemuo
2. Rev. Fr. Benjamin Adama
3. Very Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Musa
4. Rev. Fr. Patrick ?monu
YOLA DIOCESE
Kidnapped and Released safe
1. Fr. Oliver Buba
2. Fr. Matthew David Dutseumi
LAFIA DIOCESE
Kidnapped and returned safe
1. Fr. Augustine Ashigabu
ARCHDIOCESE OF KADUNA
Kidnapped and safely released
1. Fr. Paul Jibrin
2. Fr. Francis BakoAwesu
3. Fr. Godwin Ali
4. Fr. Anthony Dawah
5. Fr. Abraham Kunat
Kidnapped and killed
6. Fr. Joseph Aketeh Bako
7. Fr. Alphonsus Y. Bello
8. Fr. John Bako Shekwolo
9. Fr. Vitus Borogo
MINNA DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Very Rev Fr Leo Raphael
Kidnapped and Killed
2. Very Rev Fr John Yaji Gbakaan
3. Very Rev Fr. Isaac Achi
ISSELE-UKU DIOCESE
Kidnapped and returned
1. Fr Uche Nwaonwochei
2. Fr Franklin Odiaka
3. Fr Andrew Anah (twice)
4. Fr Jude Onyebadi (Three times)
5. Fr Samuel Agwameseh
OTUPKO DIOCESE
Kidnapped but Released
1. Very Rev Fr Joseph Ameh Onuh
2. Rev Fr David Echoda
3. Rev Fr Anthony Adikwu
4. Rev Fr Mark Ojotu
5. Rev Fr Amodu Cssp
Kidnapped and Died
6. Very Rev Fr John Alex Adeyi
ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN CITY
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr Stephen Dumbiri
2. Fr Idahosa Amadasun
3. Fr Edwin Omorogbe
4. Fr Joseph Ediae
SHENDAM DIOCESE
Kidnapped and returned Safe
1. Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak
PANKSHIN DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr. Anthony Agu
2. Fr. Kenneth Kanwa, Cmf
3. Fr. Jude Nwachukwu, Cmf
4. Fr. Elias Gogwang
PORT HARCOURT DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Msgr. Pius Kii
2. Msgr. Emmanuel Maru
3. Fr. Donatus Ukulor
4. Fr. Bernardine Anaele
5. Fr. Fabian Anaele
6. Fr. Magnus Anyanugo
7. Fr. Paul Okeregwu
8. Fr. Loveday Bornwin
9. Fr. Ambrose Bani
10. Fr. Samuel Nwika
11. Fr. Uchenna Okere
12. Fr. Paul Nwankwoala
13. Fr. Michael Mbari
14. Fr. Maurice Livinus
CALABAR ARCHDIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr. Cyril Essien
ONDO DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr Joseph Ajayi
OKIGWE DIOCESE
Kidnapped and returned safe
2. Fr EvaristusEkweke (2x)
3. Fr. Emmanuel Esiagu
4. Fr. CaniceAmajuoyi
5. Fr. Michael Asomugha
6. Fr. Kingsley Eboh
7. Fr. John Okafor
8. Fr. Francis Eze
9. Fr. Emmanuel Osuji
10. Fr. Fidelis Ekemgba
11. Fr. Jude Kingsley Maduka
12. Fr. Kenneth Osuchukwu
13. Fr. Anthony Jiwuba
14. Fr Emmanuel Azubuike (2x)
15. Fr. Kingsley Eze
16. Fr. Charles Nwachukwu
17. Fr Jerome Okonkwo
18. Fr. Culbert Okeke
19. Fr. Vitus Echedo
20. Fr. Franklin Okoro
21. Fr. John Paul Ogueri
22. Fr. Samuel Okereke
23. Fr. Donatus Eze
24. Fr. Augustine Umeibe
Attacked but Escaped
25. Fr Michael Okafor
26. Fr. Anthony Okafor O.
27. Fr Christian Obioha
28. Fr. Christian Mbara
29. Fr. Marcel Obasi
30. Fr. Anthony Onyeihe
31. Fr. Chukwuma C. Chukwuma
32. Fr Simon Osuchukwu
33. Fr Emmanuel Chinaka
34. Fr. Ernest Odoh
35. Fr. Bonaventure Ukeh
36. Fr. Paschal Ukaegbu
37. Fr Princewill Iwuanyanwu
38. Fr. Finbar Chukwu
39. Fr. Anthony Eziefule
40. Fr. Ambrose Onuoha
41. Fr. Ambrose Onuoha
42. Fr. Paulinus Okwuolise
43. Fr. Christopher Okoli
44. Fr. Cyprian Ukanwa
45. Fr. Chukwuma C. Chukwuma
46. Fr. JohnPaul J. Ogueri
47. Fr. Jude Mbano
KONTAGORA DIOCESE
Kidnapped but released
1. Fr. Linus Arege
JALINGO DIOCESE
Kidnapped and yet to be released
1. Fr. Abraham Saumam
MAIDUGURI DIOCESE
Abducted but escaped
1. Fr. Elijah Juma
KATSINA DIOCESE
Kidnapped but Released
1. Msgr Joseph Keke
UYO DIOCESE
Kidnapped but released
1. Fr. Ernest Udoh
2. Fr. Charles Ekeng
EKWULOBIA DIOCESE
Kidnapped but released
1. Fr. Egbosionu Eugene
2. Fr. Christian Ike
3. Fr. Martin Ezieruaku
4. Fr. Emmanuel Nwafor
5. Fr. Bernard Eguejiofor
6. Fr. Anthony Okoro
7. Fr. Sylvester Igwe
AUCHI DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr. Adorolo Lawrence
2. Fr. Alfred Ebalu
3. Fr. Agabi Isaac
4. Fr. John Bosco Ugwu
5. Fr. Thomas Oyode
Kidnapped yet to be released
6. Fr. Philip Ekweli
Kidnapped and killed
7. Fr. Christopher Odia
AWKA DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr. Paul Onyebuchi
2. Fr. Gerald Ejimbonwu
3. Fr. Peter Ibeazor
4. Fr. Efobi Felix
5. Fr. Joseph Nweke
6. Fr. Cornelius Okoye
7. Fr. Paul Chimezie
EKITI DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr Emmanuel Akingbade
NSUKKA DIOCESE
Kidnapped and released
1. Fr Chijioke Amoke
2. Fr Celestine Eze
3. Fr Lazarus Ekwueme
4. Fr Cyprian Ugwuanyi
5. Fr Victor Ishiwu
6. Fr Titus Ogbu
7. Fr Cyril Okpe
8. Fr Innocent Mba
9. Fr Malachy Asadu
10. Fr Sunday Onah
11. Fr Emmanuel Ugwu
12. Fr Emmanuel Nnadi – (escaped from abductors)
13. Bro. Eric Uroko – (Snr Seminarian)
UROMI DIOCESE Kidnapped but released
1. Fr. Augustine Akogba
2. Fr. Precious Martin Umanholen
3. Fr. Peter Udo (late)
4. Fr. Nicholas Oboh
5. Fr. Philemon Oboh
Source: News Express
President Bola Tinubu has restated that his government is committed to addressing the country’s main problems, including economic difficulties, power shortages and safety issues.
Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Tinubu stated that his government is still focused on policies aimed at helping the poorest and most at-risk Nigerians.
He said: “We won’t stop moving forward, and we’ll keep looking for ways to help those who are struggling.
“This is a government that really cares.”
He noted that having steady power supply is very important for development, stressing that industrial growth and learning new skills mostly rely on having dependable electricity.
“You can’t have industrial growth, learning new skills, or people gaining strength without having enough power.
“I promise Nigerians that we will provide electricity to support our country’s development,” he said.
The president also thanked Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for the way he leads the state.
“Diri has shown the strength of leading with a clear purpose, and I am here today making a promise that the challenges we face, along with the legacy of those who led this country, including the battles and difficulties of ensuring security, will be met with hard work to properly equip and train our men and women in the Armed Forces. We will defeat terrorism and banditry.”
The Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Dr Peter Chukwu is dead.
A source said the Bishop died where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Meanwhile, a social media influencer, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, in a post on his Facebook page, mourned the demise of the Bishop.
He wrote, “A very bad one for us in Ebonyi State. The loss of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Dr Peter Chukwu is a terrible loss.
“This loss is huge. God knows why, but it’s painful losing him in his 50s. A refined man and Associate Professor. This loss is beyond Ezza’s loss. It’s well. We can’t take war to God’s place. Kidney transplant issue. NCN.”
The authorities of the Catholic Church is expected to issue an official statement announcing the demise of the Bishop.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced former senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years’ imprisonment for aiding terrorism through the sale of petroleum products to insurgents.
The trial judge, Peter Lifu, convicted Habeeb on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism filed by the Federal Government.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, had pleaded guilty to the charge upon arraignment, admitting that he sold fuel to members of the Boko Haram operating in the North-East.
The convict, however, claimed that the transactions might have been carried out by attendants at his filling station.
During the proceedings, Habeeb appealed for leniency, kneeling in the dock as he urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
He told the court that he had two wives and six children and had been in detention for over 10 years without contact with his family.
Counsel to the Federal Government, David Kaswe, opposed the plea, arguing that the support provided to the terrorist group had serious consequences.
Kaswe submitted that the supply of fuel enabled the insurgents to power motorcycles used in attacks, leading to loss of lives and displacement of communities.
He urged the court to impose a stiffer penalty, noting that although the defendant had spent over a decade in custody, a 20-year sentence would be appropriate.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu held that there was no evidence establishing that the defendant was a member of Boko Haram or had undergone weapons training.
He, however, ruled that the admission of selling fuel to the insurgents was sufficient to sustain the charge of aiding terrorism.
The judge also noted that the prosecution did not challenge the defendant’s claim of prolonged detention.
Justice Lifu consequently sentenced Habeeb to 10 years’ imprisonment.
He ordered that the sentence should take effect from the date of the convict’s arrest and detention.
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