AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bandits attack rectory and kidnap parish priest in north-east Nigeria

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) -Kidnappings of priests in Nigeria do not stop. The priest, Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Tarhembe, was abducted from his parish in Ibi Local Council of Taraba State (north-eastern Nigeria) in the early hours of Sunday, October 29.
Msgr Mark Nzukwein, Bishop of Wukari in a statement released through the diocese's Director of Communication, confirmed that the parish priest was abducted in the parish rectory.
As repeatedly reported by Fides Agency, kidnapping for the purpose of extortion has long become a real "industry" in Nigeria (see Fides, 29/3/2023). Those who pay the price are ordinary citizens, as well as church personnel, captured in the course of street kidnappings or, as in this case, in real assaults, usually at night, on convents and parish houses.
A few days ago, a gang of Fulani herdsmen raided the Benedictine monastery of Eruku in Kwara State, north-central Nigeria and abducted a novice, Godwin Eze, who was later killed by the kidnappers (see Fides, 26/10/2023), and two postulants, Anthony Eze and Peter Olarewaj, who were later released (see Fides, 25/10/2023).
In the State of Taraba at the end of September, the police announced the arrest of 20 alleged members of a gang dedicated to kidnapping, which led to the recovery of a sum of money resulting from ransoms paid by the families of several kidnapped persons, and some weapons. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 20/10/2023)

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