Catholic Priest, Six Others Killed in Armed Attack at Parish of Nigeria’s Katsina Diocese

The body of Fr. Ngugban alongside those “of six others were recovered,” the Chancellor of Katsina Diocese further says in his statement.

Gunmen who attacked the Parish raided the Aye-Twar community and set many houses on fire, according to multiple media reports.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Benue Command, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the killing of Fr. Ngugban saying, “Attack on St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Aye-Twar village, Agu centre in Kastina-Ala LGA by bandits is confirmed. Rev. Fr. Nguban Fanen lost his life during the attack.”

“The corpse has been deposited at General Hospital, Kastina-Ala while a joint operation of Police and other security agencies are on the trail of the hoodlums,” Ms. Anene added.

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Ordained a Priest in 2015, the late Fr. Ngugban has served in various positions in the Diocese of Katsina including Assistant Cathedral Administrator at St. Gerard Majella Cathedral (2015-2016), St. Peter Parish Gbor-Tongov (2016-2018), and lately, at St. Paul Parish Ayetwar where he met his death March 30.

“Burial arrangements Shall be announced later,” the Chancellor of the Diocese of Katsina says in his March 31 statement, adding, “May the soul of Fr Ferdinand Fanen NGUGBAN and his companions rest in peace.”

The murder of Fr. Ngugban further raises concerns about insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation, days after a Catholic Priest of the country’s Warri Diocese was released after a weeklong captivity.

Fr. Harrison Egwuenu had been abducted by gunmen on March 15 while returning to St. George’s college Obinomba where he recently assumed the office of Principal.

Confirming the safe release of Fr. Egwuenu, the Administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Warri Diocese, Fr. Benedict Okutegbe challenged the Buhari-led government to realize its primary duty of safeguarding the lives of Nigerians.

“We demand more from our government. Not tomorrow but now! They should #Stand UP or STAND DOWN#,” Fr. Okutegbe appealed during the March 25 interview with ACI Africa.

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.