Catholic Church Confirms Abduction Of Three Seminarians In Kaduna

The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan has announced the abduction of three seminarians at the Christ the King Major Seminary within St Albert Institute in Kaduna State.

In a letter to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kaduna Province, the Chancellor, Kafanchan Diocese, Rev. Fr Emmanuel Uche Okolo confirmed the incident of six seminarians with various degrees of injuries.

The letter reads “we announce with unease the kidnap of three major seminarians of the Christ the King MajorSeminary, Christ the King Major Seminary, our diocesan Major Seminary is domiciled within the St. Albert Institute. It houses mostly the formators and seminarians preparing for the Catholic priesthood.

“The Seminarians receive academic formation from the St. Albert Institute. The event took place on Monday, October 2021 at about 7.26 pm, in the Chapel of the Seminary in Fayit, Fadan Kagoma in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“As at the time of the attack to formators including the Rectors of the Seminary and the Institute, 132 seminarians, 6 non-seminarians, one female non-academic staff and one steward were on the ground.

“Six seminarians sustained various degrees of injuries. A dispatch of soldiers of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) was on the ground to accompany some formators and the injured seminarians to Salem Hospital in Kafanchan.

“There, they were treated and discharged after being confirmed to be stable.

“From the narrative of the seminary security agents, the law enforcement personnel and the headcount conducted after Mass on the 12th October 2021, it was confirmed that three Theology four seminarians were abducted.

“These seminarians belong to the Apostles of Divine Charity and the Little Sons of the Eucharist Congregation.

“We ask for your closeness to us in praying for the quick and safe release of our abducted brothers.

“The entire well-wishers of our Institute and Seminary are hereby encouraged to desist from taking the laws into their hands. We would use every legitimate means to ensure their prompt and secure release.”