According to Radio Truth Asia: Three priests were kidnapped in Nigeria within 5 days
Within 5 days, 3 priests were kidnapped in Nigeria, Africa. The latest case is Father Mark Ojotu, chaplain of Saint Mary's Hospital in Okpoga. He was kidnapped on the afternoon of December 22, on his way to Okpoga-Ojapo, in Benue state, according to a statement from the Diocese of Otukpo sent to the Fides news agency of the Ministry for Evangelization.
Bishop Michael Ekwoy Apochi, Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, asked the faithful to pray for the soon release of the priest along with all those in the hands of the kidnappers.
Previously, on December 20, Father Sylvester Okekwu, of Kafanchan Diocese, Kaduna state in northern Nigeria, suffered the same fate. And on December 17, Father Christopher Ogide, vicar of the Assumption of Mary, Umuahia Diocese in Abia state, was kidnapped in Umuopara. However, Father Sylvester was released on the morning of December 23.
In an interview on this occasion, Father Okafor, Communications Director of Kafanchan diocese, said locally, “we especially have problems with armed robbery parties.
There will be an election next year, and the atmosphere is already starting to become tense. Many times it is politicians who arm young people and they use weapons to do so many evil things.
On the other hand, among the tribes, there is the issue of land disputes. Christians often become targets of attacks and ambushes. In reality, the priest is the reference point of the community, so people attack the priest to remove that reference point and the flock will be scattered.
“Since 1980, about 20,000 Nigerians have been killed by violence. Among the hundreds of attacks that devastated many places in southern Kaduna state, causing thousands of deaths since 2014, no one has been arrested or denounced. For the past 20 years, Kaduna state has been a place of racial and religious divides, along with long-standing tensions due to previous regional conflicts.