Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Another Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Nigeria: Fr. Joseph Shekari, parish priest in Ikulu Fari (Chawai, Kauru) in Kaduna State in northern Nigeria. According to initial reports, armed men are said to have broken into the parish house around 11.30 pm (local time) on Sunday, February 6.
The bandits kidnapped Fr. Joseph Shekari and killed an unidentified cook who worked in the parish house.
Kaduna State is one of the areas of Nigeria hit by the wave of violence that has spread much death and destruction in recent weeks. Criminal gangs have been active in central and north-western Nigeria for years, raiding villages, stealing cattle, looting and even killing people. Most recently, on Sunday, January 31, 11 people were killed in the raid on the village of Kurmin Masara in the local government area of Zangon Kataf. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/2/2022)