AFRICA/NIGERIA - "We are waiting to be contacted by the kidnappers", says the Bishop of Ekiti after the kidnapping of a priest

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "We are waiting for the kidnappers of our priest to get in touch with us to tell us their demands in exchange for his release" says His Exc. Mgr. Felix Ajakaye, Bishop of Ekiti. Don Emmanuel Akingbade, pastor of St. Benedict of Ido-Elkit (in southwestern Nigeria) was kidnapped on June 8.
As stated by Mgr. Ajakaye, three armed bandits entered Don Akingbade’s residence, took possession of a sum of money and the priest’s laptop and forced him to follow them.
According to the person who was with Don Akingbade at the time of the abduction, the kidnappers asked the priest 20 million Naira (100,816 euro) if he wanted to avoid being kidnapped.
Acts of violence against Catholic priests have increased in recent weeks in Nigeria. On June 1, Don Goodwill Onyeka was killed along with his brother in a robbery along the road Owo-Oba-Akoko, in Ondo state in southern Nigeria (see Fides 02/06/2015). On May 4 Fr. Innocent Umor was kidnapped, in the diocese of Idah, in Kogi State, in central southern Nigeria. The priest was released two days later (see Fides 08/05/2015). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/06/2015)


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