Monk Shot, Body “thrown in the river” following Kidnapping at a Nigerian Monastery

“However, we are saddened by the news of the gruesome murder of the third brother, Godwin Eze, in the hands of the kidnappers. May God grant eternal rest to his soul, consolation to his immediate family members and to all of us who are left to mourn his passing,” the official at the Diocese of Ilorin adds.

In an interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Joseph Ekesioba, a former Novice Director at the Benedictine monastery, said that Br. Godwin was shot by Fulani bandits a day after the kidnapping.

“I have been sharing with one of our brothers who was released and he said that Godwin was shot on Wednesday (October 18) at night. The abductors took our three brothers to the bank of a river and shot Brother Godwin. They then threw his lifeless body in the river,” Fr. Joseph said in the Tuesday, October 24 interview.

He added, “After killing Godwin, the kidnappers led brothers Peter and Anthony to the forest where they had been hiding them and continued to threaten them, telling them that they too would be killed. Luckily, the two were set free on Saturday (October 21) evening.”

Fr. Joseph said that the Monastery was organizing a search to retrieve the body of Br. Godwin from the river.

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He told ACI Africa that the Monastery had been forced to implement drastic measures following the October 17 kidnapping.

“We have had to relocate our brothers to a safer place since we continue to receive threats of attacks,” he said.

The Catholic Diocese of Ilorin Serves Kwara State, which is bordered to the East by Kogi State, to the North by Niger State, and to the South by Ekiti, Osun and Oyo States. 

Some of these Nigerian States, including Kogi and Niger continue to witness attacks, reportedly perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen and other bandits. 

A report by Intersociety in April indicated that more than 150 people had been slaughtered in Christian parts of Niger State in 100 days alone. 

And that of the 707 Christians that had been abducted in the same period, 200 abductions were carried out in Niger alone.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.