In the capital city of Chad, N’Djamena, the parish priest of the church of Blessed Isidore Bakandja in Walia Goré, Father Simon-Pierre Madou Baïhana was arrested on August 5. Authorities came without a warning, not taking into consideration the fragile health of the priest, and the arrest happened in such a violent manner that at first his arrest was thought to be a kidnapping. The officers arrived in unidentified vehicles, wearing turbans, and they forced open the entrance of the parish by shooting at it. A source said to Agenzia Fides that

“The manner of the arrest had initially suggested a kidnapping by bandits. Then the government announced in a statement that the priest had been taken into custody.”

Abderrahmane Koulamalah, a government spokesman, released a statement that Father Madou was arrested by the authorities and the arrest complied with judicial procedures. Furthermore, it is stated that Father Madou was arrested because of

“his repeated statements calling for the division of the country and endangering national cohesion.”

Even though it is in the statement, more than 12 hours after his arrest, the prosecutor did not press any charges against Father Madou.

Source: Agenzia Fides