AFRICA/NIGERIA - One of the two priests kidnapped has been murdered

Kafanchan (Agenzia Fides) - "It is with a deep sense of sorrow and pains that the Bishop, Clergy, Religious and Laity of the Diocese of Kafanchan announce the gruesome murder of Very Rev. Fr. John Mark Cheitnum.
Fr. John Mark, who was abducted from the rectory of Christ the King Parish Yadin Garu, Lere L.G.A of Kaduna State, was brutally killed by his abductors on the same day of his abduction; Friday 15th July, 2022", the Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese Fr. Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo says in his July 19 statement. The body of Fr. John Mark was later discovered already decomposing on Tuesday 19th July, in the forest not far from the place of the kidnapping.
Fr. John Mark Cheitnum and Fr. Denatus Cleopas were abducted at around 5:45 p.m. on July 15 at the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church in the town of Lere in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State. Fr. Cleopa managed to escape from the kidnappers. The diocese has announced that the priest's funeral will be held on Thursday July 21, at 10 am at St. Peter Cathedral of Kafanchan Diocese, and has called for two days of mourning. "As we solicit for prayers for the repose of our dear brother Priest and God's consolation on his immediate family, we wish to humbly call on all and sundry to refrain from taking the laws into their hands", underlined Fr. Okolo.
Fr. John Mark was parish priest, director of communications of the diocese, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 20/7/2022)

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