Gunmen miss Rev Father, abduct Catechist in Kaduna

Gunmen miss Rev Father, abduct Catechist in KadunaGunmen kidnapped Mr Kefas Ishaya, the Catechist of St. Monica Catholic Church, Ikulu-Pari, in the Chawai Chiefdom of Kauru Local Government, Kaduna State, on Thursday.Information Guide Nigeria

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the gunmen chose the Catechist because they were unable to locate his boss, Rev Fr Joseph Shekari, who was not present when his residence was attacked.

Shekari, who was abducted in similar circumstances in February 2022, had left the village and was not available for a second ordeal in captivity.

The parish held its annual Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, and members believe the abductors were after the proceeds after successfully carting away what was generated in February 2022.

The Chairman of Ikulu Zone of the parish, Mr Sunday Bage, told NAN that the abductors came “around 9.30 p.m.”

“Thank God Father (Reverend) travelled. They didn’t get him, but they picked our Catechist. They dragged the Catechist to the bush. They took him with his phone. We have been calling the line but it keeps ringing out,” he told NAN on phone.NYSC portal

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He claimed that the gunmen were numerous and continued to fire sporadically as they moved through the Church, the school, and the priest’s residence in search of the Rev Father.

According to neighbours, the gunmen broke into the priest’s home after scaling the fence.

They were said to have used stones and bullets to break down the main door to the house.

“Immediately they broke into the house, they searched and ransacked everywhere. They checked under the beds, wardrobes, bathrooms and kitchen.

“They even checked the ceiling, but Father had travelled. So, they did not get him. In anger, they took our Catechist. As we speak, he is with them in the bush.JAMB portal

“It is a very sad situation. This is devastating. They dragged Catechist on the ground like a dog,” a visibly fear-stricken woman told NAN.

She recalled that it was not long ago that Fr Shekari was abducted and rescued after “a huge ransom” was paid.

“They came again to take him. Luckily, he wasn’t in. This is really a dark period for us,” he said.

In February 2022, gunmen kidnapped Shekari. Sati Musa, his cook, was shot dead by the gunmen during the February attack while attempting to protect his master.

While speaking about the February incident, a church elder, Mr Yohanna Madaki, stated that the abductors apparently targeted the more than N2 million earned from the annual thanksgiving service on the same day.

The money was taken with the priest, while the murdered cook was a student at Kizakoro Government Secondary School.

This year’s Annual Thanksgiving Service was held on Sunday, January 16, and the abductors struck on Thursday, January 19.JAMB Result

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