A priest was killed on Ash Wednesday
Unknown men kidnapped a parish priest in Nigeria. The day after his abduction, the priest's body was found. The circumstances of his kidnapping and murder are still unknown.
On March 4, yet another Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Nigeria. The victim is Father Sylvester Okechukwu, parish priest of the Church of St. Mary Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Unknown men entered his residence in the evening hours and abducted the priest. His kidnappers killed Father Sylvester the next day, on Ash Wednesday.
The diocese of Kafanchan released a statement announcing his death and voiced their grave sadness over the death of their beloved priest. Also expressed their closeness to his family and asked the believers to pray for the soul of Father Sylvester.
“This untimely and brutal loss has left us heartbroken and devastated. Fr. Sylvester was a dedicated servant of God who worked selflessly in the vineyard of the Lord, spreading the message of peace, love and hope. He was always available and accessible to his parishioners. His untimely death has left an indelible void within our diocesan family, and we share in the pain of his passing with his family, friends and all those who knew and loved him.”
The circumstances of the kidnapping and murder of Father Sylvester are still unknown. Since the beginning of March, this was the first case of a murder of a priest and the second case of kidnapping. On March 2, a group of gunmen kidnapped a priest and a seminarian. Their whereabouts and conditions are still unknown.
Source: Agenzia Fides
