“He's being taken care of medically”: Nigeria’s Shendam Diocese on Abducted Catholic Priest Escaping Captivity

Shendam, 20 February, 2025 / 11:51 PM

Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak, who was abducted on February 6 from the Catholic Diocese of Shendam in Nigeria has successfully escaped captivity, and he is receiving treatment at an “undisclosed” health facility in the country’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, ACI Africa has established. 

In an interview with ACI Africa on Thursday, February 20, the Director of Communication of Shendam Diocese said that Fr. Damulak had escaped from his abductors a week ago and thanked the people of God for their spiritual solidarity.

“He actually escaped from his abductors on February 13, and he's being taken care of medically in an undisclosed area in Abuja,” Fr. Joseph Oscar Pam said about Fr. Damulak, who was abducted from his residence at Zuma 2 in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. 

Fr. Pam expressed gratitude to all who prayed for the safe release of Fr. Damulak, a student at the Federal Capital Territory.

“We express our deep gratitude to all who assisted us with prayers during the difficult and trying period of his captivity,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest said, and implored, “May God bless and reward you abundantly for your solidarity.”

In the February 20 interview, Fr. Pam appealed for prayers for Fr. Moses Gyang Jah of St. Mary Maijuju Parish of Shendam Diocese, who was abducted on Wednesday, February 19 alongside his niece and the Parish Council Chairman, Mr. Nyam Ajiji.

“The chairman of his Parish Council was the one that was killed,” Fr. Pam told ACI Africa, adding that Fr. Moses is yet to be released and that “his abductors just got in touch with the Diocese yesterday.”

“For us we are still praying for his safe release,” Fr. Pam said.

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.

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.

Abah Anthony John contributed to the writing of this story