Thursday, December 4, 2025 - The Catholic community in Kaduna has been thrown into panic following the abduction of Reverend Father Emmanuel Ezema, a priest of the Zaria Diocese, who was whisked away by unknown gunmen late Tuesday night.
The Diocese of Zaria confirmed the disturbing development on
Wednesday, in an official notice signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr.
Isek Augustine.
According to the statement, Fr. Ezema was kidnapped around
11:30 pm from his residence at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Rumi, sending shock
waves across the parish and the entire Christian community.
“We regret to officially announce the abduction of our
priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ezema… We call on all men and women of goodwill to
pray for the safe and quick release of our priest and others from the hands of
their abductors,” the Diocese said.
The Church also invoked the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, expressing hope that the priest would “return to us safe and
sound.”
The kidnapping comes at a time when insecurity is once again
spiking across Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency on
security, as criminal attacks, abductions, and violent raids continue to spread
across various states.
Fr. Ezema’s abduction adds to the growing list of clergy
targeted by armed groups in recent months, raising renewed concerns over the
safety of religious institutions in the country.
0 Comments