The parish of St. Luke Gyedna in Nigeria, where the priest and seminarian were kidnapped (ACN).
Father Paul Sanogo and seminarian Melchior Dominick have been kidnapped for 21 days. This Thursday, August 24, they were released.
ACN – The priest and the seminarian kidnapped in Nigeria for 21 days were released on August 21. They are Father Paul Sanogo and seminarian Melchior Dominick. Both were held hostage for 21 days. Their capture occurred during an attack on the parish of St. Luke Gyedna, in the diocese of Minna, Nigeria.
According to Alfa y Omega, Sanogo, originally from Burkina Faso, belongs to the congregation of the Missionaries of Africa, better known as the White Fathers, and was stationed in the country. Melkiori, on the other hand, comes from Tanzania and was in Nigeria for a missionary experience with the White Fathers before continuing his theology studies.
Kidnapped in Nigeria
In a communiqué sent by the diocese of Minna to the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the facts were made known and it was reported that the kidnappers took the two religious by force from their priestly house in the town of Gyedna. The bishop of Minna Bishop Martins Igwe Uzoukwu sent a message to all the parishes of the diocese, inviting the faithful to pray for the priest and seminarian kidnapped in Nigeria. «On behalf of my auxiliary bishop Sylvester Luka Gopep, priests and religious of the Catholic diocese of Minna. I ask for your prayers for Father Paul and seminarian Melchior,» the prelate assured.
Also, a spokesman for the Niger state police confirmed the kidnapping and advised all other members of the clergy in the region to exercise the utmost caution while the search for the abductees is underway. «We ask God to hear our prayers so that they may return in peace,» concluded Bishop Uzoukwu.
The kidnapping prompted several official statements from Tanzania. The country’s ambassador to Nigeria, Benson Bana, reported at the time that «all necessary measures were being taken to secure the release of the two abductees». He then recalled that «kidnappings are commonplace in Nigeria». For his part, the president of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga, Archbishop of Mbeya, stressed «the importance of respecting the principles of human rights». He also confirmed the Church’s support for «diplomatic efforts to secure the unconditional release of the abducted persons».