Gunmen abduct Catholic priest in Zamfara 

Some armed men suspected to be bandits have abducted Mikah Suleiman, parish priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church in Zamfara state.

Suleiman was kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday at the rectory located within the church premises in Gusau, the state capital.

Nuhu Iliya, acting chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, confirmed the incident in a statement.

Iliya called on the public to pray for the swift and safe return of Suleiman.

“With sadness in our hearts, we write to inform the general public of the kidnap of one of our priests, Revd. Fr. Mikah Suleiman. This sad event occurred in the early hours of today, Saturday, 22nd June 2024 in the Father’s rectory. Fr Mikah is the Parish Priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State,” the statement reads.

“We invite all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for his quick and safe release

“We equally commend him to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors.”

The Zamfara state police command has given assurances that it is on top of the situation and has deployed a tactical team to secure the safe return of the priest.

Suleiman’s abduction is coming less than a week after Christian Ike, a reverend father at St. Mathew Catholic Church in Ajallii parish, Orumba north LGA of Anambra was kidnapped.

Earlier in the month, Gabriel Ukeh, the presiding priest of St. Thomas Catholic parish in Zaman Dabo community, Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna state, was also abducted by bandits.

SBM Intelligence, a research organisation, had said at least 39 Catholic priests were killed by gunmen and 30 others abducted in 2022.