Nigeria: Relentless Attacks on Christians Spark Outrage Over Priest’s Kidnapping
The abduction of Nigerian priest Emmanuel Ezema amid rising attacks on clergy intensifies fears over religious violence, drawing calls for prayers and urgent action amid growing insecurity in Kaduna state.
According to the chancellor of the Nigerian Catholic Ministry, Father Isaac Augustino, all men and women of goodwill are called upon “to pray for the safe and swift release of our priest and others from the kidnappers’ hands.” This statement was made on Wednesday.
“Through the intercession of Our Lady, the Mother of all priests and our mother, may our brother, as well as the others, return to us safe and sound,” Augustino wished.
The Ministry did not disclose whether a ransom was demanded, and Nigerian officials have not yet identified the kidnappers. A report by the Daily Post newspaper stated that the abduction has caused “panic” in the Catholic community of Kaduna, amid the prevailing climate of fear in the country.
Ezema’s kidnapping adds to the list of clergy targeted by armed groups in recent months, intensifying concerns over the security of religious institutions in the country. Another Nigerian priest, the Anglican Venerable Edwin Atchi, was strangled by his kidnappers last week. Atchi, also serving in Kaduna State, had been abducted along with his wife and daughter by a group of unknown armed men on October 28.
Shortly before the announcement of Atchi’s death, the kidnappers released photos of the priest, his wife, and several other Christian hostages. The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, is facing harsh criticism for failure to take action against jihadists and bandits and declared a national state of emergency last week.
Donald Trump accused Tinubu’s government of imposing a “Christian genocide” and threatened to send American forces with “fully armed weapons” earlier in November.
