Bandits abduct Catholic priest in Kaduna

Bandits have abducted Luka Yakusak, the priest in charge of St Matthew’s Catholic Church, Anchuna village, Zangon Kataf LGA, Kaduna state.

The bandits were said to have invaded the community around 8pm on Monday.

The village is the hometown of Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese.

Witnesses said the bandits shot sporadically when they invaded the community before heading to the official residence of the Catholic priest.

Mohammad Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, could not be reached to confirm the incident.

However, Luka Binniyat, spokesman of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), confirmed the abduction of the Catholic priest.

Binniyat said the persistent attacks and killings in southern Kaduna communities, especially in Zangon Kataf LGA, and inability of security agencies to stop the attacks have made the people helpless.

“Yes, I can confirm that a Catholic priest in Achuna, Bishop Kukah’s village was abducted on Monday at about 8pm,” Binniyat said.

“This is not the first time gunmen are attacking the community, you recall that some years back, the traditional ruler of Ikulu chiefdom who is Bishop Kukah’s brother was abducted.

“These persistent attacks and killings in the southern Kaduna communities, especially in Zangon Kataf LGA, and the seeming inability of security agencies to stop the attacks have made our people helpless.”

The abduction of the priest comes less than 24 hours after 12 people, mainly women and children were killed on Sunday in an attack on Apiyejim village, Atyap chiefdom, also in Zango-Kataf LGA.

On Saturday, Silas Yakubu Ali, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Kibori-Asha Awuce in Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna state, was killed by suspected hoodlums.