Abducted Catholic priest dies in captivity

Reverend Father Joseph Akete Bako, who was kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna State, died in captivity.

On March 8, gunmen stormed St. John Catholic Church, Kudenda in the state’s Chikun Local Government Area, kidnapping the 48-year-old priest from his home after killing one security guard.

The late priest died between April 18 and 20, 2022, according to the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Christian Okewu Emmanuel, who announced the sad incident in a statement on Wednesday May 11.

The cleric was sick before the incident, according to the Chancellor, and the abductors refused to let him take his medications.”Rev. Father, Joseph, aged 48, was kidnapped from his residence, in St. John Catholic Church Kudenda, where he was serving as Parish Priest, on the 8th March, 2022,” he stated.

“His own brother was killed there in his presence and after his brother was killed, his condition worsened and he died. We have not recovered his corpse but we have confirmed his death. People who were kidnapped together with him saw him die.”

The Chancellor said the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, has communicated his deepest sympathies to the breaved family and the entire Catholic Community of St John Catholic Church, Kudenda and assured them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.

“Details of his funeral arrangement will be announced as soon as they are ready. Meanwhile, kindly continue to pray for his peaceful repose, and for the consolation of the bereaved Christian Community in the Archdiocese of Kaduna,” the statement read.