Bandits in the early hours of Monday abducted Reverend Father Emmanuel Silas of the St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Chancellor, Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, confirmed the incident.
This is coming less than a week after the remains of the slain Reverend Father Vitus Borogo, also a Catholic priest, killed by terrorists on his farm, were buried in the state capital on Thursday.
Borogo was killed on June 25, 2022, while his brother, CY Borogo was kidnapped by his abductors.
The development sparked protests among priests in the Kaduna Archdiocese, forcing them to carry placards in venting their anger over the deteriorating spate of insecurity across the country, especially in the state.
The Chancellor, in a statement released in Kaduna on Monday, said the priest was abducted from the parish rectory of the church in the early hours of the day.
While soliciting prayers for the abducted priest, the Chancellor said the Diocese would adopt any legitimate means to ensure the quick and safe release of the cleric.
He said, “It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of our Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Silas. The event occurred in the early hours of July 04, 2022, when he could not turn up for morning Mass.
“He was abducted from the parish rectory at St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“We solicit an intense prayer for his quick and safe release. We equally wish to call on all and sundry to refrain from taking the laws into their hands.
“We will use every legitimate means to ensure his quick and safe release.
“May Jesus crucified on the Cross, listen to our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of His Priest and all other kidnapped persons.”
