The Diocese of Kafanchan has seen at least one pastoral agent murdered each year since 2021.
The bishop of the Diocese of Kafanchan in Kaduna State, Nigeria, has expressed his “deep sorrow and righteous indignation” over the abduction and subsequent murder of one of his priests.
Fr Sylvester Okechukwu was abducted from his residence on 4 March, and found murdered in the early hours of 5 March, though it is unclear why his kidnappers decided to kill him.
In a statement sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi of Kafanchan describes the tremendous pain felt by the entire diocese over this case and issues a call to the authorities over the insecurity that reigns in the diocese and the entire state of Kaduna.
“With deep sorrow and righteous indignation, I condemn in the strongest terms the relentless and tragic wave of kidnappings targeting priests, pastoral agents and the faithful of our diocese,” which he describes as “a cruel assault on our faith, our humanity and the peace of our state”.
“The diocese is engulfed in anguish, and the land is heavy with anger. How long shall our pastors and brethren be hunted like prey? How long shall our places of worship become grounds for fear instead of sanctuaries of hope?”
Bishop Julius Kundi then goes on to list the large number of priests, catechists and other pastoral agents from his diocese who have been kidnapped or murdered in the past few years, adding that “just this morning I received the news of the abduction of about six parishioners” from the parish of St Mathew in Anchuna, including the wife of a catechist.
In a telephone conversation with ACN, the bishop added that since 2021 the diocese has mourned at least one murdered pastoral agent every year, including leading catechist Raymond Ya’u, in 2021; Fr Mark Cheitnum, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2022; seminarian Naaman Ngofe, murdered in 2023 and catechist Istifanus Katunku, who was kidnapped in 2024 and remains missing.
According to the statement, the diocese is at the disposal of the security forces for any cooperation to address these security threats, but the bishop also reserves some harsh words for the national authorities. “We demand that the government and security agencies take immediate and decisive action to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. The blood of Fr Sylvester Okechukwu and all other innocent souls cries out for justice!”
The statement ends with a call to all Catholic faithful in Kaduna to remain calm and steadfast in prayer, and not let anger “drive us into actions that would lead to further bloodshed”. The bishop also expresses his wish that “the light of truth, justice and righteousness prevail over darkness and evil”.
Nigeria has been a country of particular concern regarding the targeted kidnapping or murder of priests and other pastoral agents in recent years. In 2023, a total of 25 religious were kidnapped, and two killed. The number dropped in 2024, standing at 13 kidnappings and one murder, but since 2025 began, there have already been nine kidnappings and one murder, which is cause for grave concern.
The murder of Fr Sylvester comes at a time when one other Nigerian priest and a seminarian are missing. Fr Philip Ekweli and Peter Andrew were abducted in the Diocese of Auchi, on Monday, 3 March. Another two priests, Fathers Matthew David Dutsemi and Abraham Saummam, were abducted on 22 February, in the Diocese of Yola, but were rescued on 8 March.
