Armed men attack Bishop Kukah parish, kidnap priests
By Taofik Aliu, Sokoto
Armed men in tens have invaded the Partish of fiery critic, Father Mathew Kukah
The armed men invaded the parish on Wednesday. They kidnapped two priests in Katsina while carting away some valuables. Katsina is being supervised by Father Kukah.
“They first asked for the priests They then asked how many people were in the parish. Before we could regain our mind, they bursted into the temples and took two priests away” eyewitness in Katsina told Irohinoodua.
The kidnapped priests are Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara
Father Kukah who is the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese in Sokoto is ethnic minority Christian from Kaduna State but has lived in Sokoto in recent times where he has become a strong voice in condemning extremism and the slide to anarchy in some parts of the country.
Kukah is Nigeria’s most vociferous critic of violence and terrorism on some parts of the country
Irohinoodua heard that the armed men stormed the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, in the Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State which is also under the Episcopal jurisdiction of Kukah.
The Sokoto Diocese extends to Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina States.
The Director, Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho said “As at midnight of today, 25th May, 2022, gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State.
“The parish priest and his assistant Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara and two boys in the house were kidnapped.
