Abductors Demanding Ransom to Free Catholic Priest Kidnapped in Jos Archdiocese, Nigeria

The June 13 report also indicates that on the same day Fr. Kantoma was abducted, gunmen also kidnapped Rev. Oluwaseun Aderogba, the Anglican Bishop of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State, his wife, and driver. The latter were reportedly kidnapped along the new Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway in Oyo State.

Police Public Relations of the command, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a statement saying, “On Sunday 12/06/2022 at about 2100HRS, one Rev. Adekunle Adeluwa reported to the Command through an incident report at Atiba Divisional Police Headquarters, Oyo town that at about 20h30hours, one Bishop Rt. Rev Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State in the company of his wife and driver were abducted.”

He adds, “Preliminary investigations reveal that the victim’s vehicle developed what seemed a mechanical fault while traveling from Yewa, Ogun State to Jebba, Kwara State enroute an isolated area along New Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway.”

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.

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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.

The latest abduction of Fr. Kantoma comes barely a week after another Catholic Priest, Fr. Christopher Itopa Onotu was abducted from his residence at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish of Lokoja Diocese in Nigeria.

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.