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Catholic Diocese of Sokoto in Nigeria Seeking Prayers for “quick, safe release” of Abducted Priest

Fr. Mikah Suleiman. Credit: Catholic Diocese of Sokoto

By Jude Atemanke

Sokoto, 22 June, 2024 / 10:00 pm (ACI Africa).

The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto in Nigeria is appealing for prayers for the “quick and safe” release of Fr. Mikah Suleiman abducted on Saturday, June 22.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa on June 22, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese, Fr. Nuhu Iliya, provides details of the abduction of the Parish Priest of St. Raymond Damba Parish of Sokoto Diocese.

“This sad event occurred at the early hours of today … in the Father’s Rectory,” Fr. Iliya says about the abduction of Fr. Suleiman, which he says the leadership of the Diocese is making public “with sadness in our hearts”.

Appealing for prayers for the safe release of Fr. Suleiman, the Chancellor says, “We invite all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for his quick and safe release.”

“We equally commend him to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest says.

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Nigeria has been battling with a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs, whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and in some cases, killing.

Boko Haram insurgency has been a major challenge in the country since 2009, a group that allegedly aims to turn Africa's most populous nation into an Islamic nation.

The latest abduction of Fr. Suleiman follows a series of other kidnappings that have targeted members of the Clergy in Africa’s most populous nation.

Fr. Gabriel Ukeh was abducted from a Parish Rectory in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan on June 9. He is yet to be released.

On June 16,  Fr. Christian Ike and Mr. Ogbonnia Aneke were abducted as they were returning from Mass in an outstation of St. Matthew's Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia (CADEK). The duo are yet to be released.

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Earlier, on May 15, the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha announced the abduction of Fr. Basil Gbuzuo, who was also later set free. 

Fr. Oliver Buba, a Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Yola, who had been abducted on May 21, later found his freedom.

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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