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Catholic Archdiocese Kaduna in Nigeria Seeking Prayers for Safe Release of Abducted Priest

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By Jude Atemanke

Kaduna, 11 November, 2022 / 7:50 pm (ACI Africa).

The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna in Nigeria is seeking spiritual solidarity towards the safe release of Fr. Abraham Kunat who was kidnapped from a Church residence in the early hours of Tuesday, November 8.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Archdiocese announces the Catholic Priest’s kidnapping, saying, “I write to inform you of the abduction of one of our Priests, Rev. Fr. Abraham Kunat, the Parish Priest of St Bernard, Idon Gida, on Tuesday, 8th November, 2022, at about 12:30am.”

Fr. Christian Okewu Emmanuel adds, in reference to the abducted Catholic Priest, “The incident took place at St Mulumba, Kurmin Sara, Kachia LGA, where Fr Kunat has been residing all along due to the insecurity situation.”

“We solicit for the prayerful support of the faithful and indeed all men and women of goodwill that God Almighty will take control of the situation, preserve our Priest, and bring him back to us in one piece,” Fr. Okewu implores.

Nigeria has been struggling with violence from gangs who kidnap for ransom and sometimes kill their abductees.

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The West African nation has been experiencing insecurity since 2009 when the Boko Haram insurgency emerged with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state.

The abduction of Fr. Kunat is the latest in a series of other kidnappings of members of the Clergy and Christians in Africa’s most populous country. 

On July 3, an Italian Priest in Benin City Archdiocese in Nigeria was beaten by “suspected herdsmen” after he resisted following them.

Fr. Luigi Brenna who fainted following the beatings managed to head back to his residence “in a pool of blood” after gaining consciousness. He was “rushed” to Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital in Benin City and on July 4, transferred to “another hospital” for more specialized treatment. 

On July 6, Fr. Peter Amodu, a Priest of the Holy Ghost Congregation working in the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo as Parish Priest of Holy Ghost Parish, Eke-Olengbeche, was taken hostage by armed men along Otukpo - Ugbokolo Road, Benue State, while he was on his way to for Holy Mass at Okwungaga-Ugbokolo. The Priest was set free days later.

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On October 16, the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha invited the people of God to pray for the “unconditional release” of Fr. Joseph Igweagu who was kidnapped on October 12 as he returned to his Parish residence after presiding over a funeral Vigil Mass.

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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