GIOTV has learned that gunmen broke into one of the parishes presided over by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, early Wednesday.
Our correspondent learned that armed thugs kidnapped two priests and two others in the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, in Katsina State’s Kafur Local Government Area.
Kukah’s Sokoto Diocese includes the states of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi.
Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho, Director of Social Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Wednesday morning.
He claimed that the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto is under attack and that no information about the abductees’ whereabouts has been obtained.
Omotosho said, “As at midnight of today, 25th May, 2022, gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State.
“The parish priest and his assistant Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara and two boys in the house were kidnapped.
“No information as to their whereabouts. Kindly pray for their safety and release.”
When contacted, the spokesman for Katsina State Police Command, Gambo Isah, said, “Let me find out.”
Following his condemnation of Deborah Yakubu’s gruesome murder by her Muslim colleagues, rampaging hoodlums torched and vandalized some parishes presided over by Kukah in Sokoto on May 14.
The 200-level Home Economics student at Sokoto’s Shehu Shagari College of Education was charged with blasphemy against Prophet Muhammed.
Rioters also set fire to some of Kukah’s church buildings and set a bus on fire on one of the premises.
The Sokoto religious riot has spread to parts of Bauchi and Abuja in recent days, despite security agents and some northern governors warning against religious violence.