YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – Another Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Nigeria, seen as a growing threat to Christians in Africa’s most populous country.

St. in Okigwe Diocese. Theresa Obollo Parish Parish Priest, Father Emmanuel Azubuike, was kidnapped at Obollo in Imo State while he was returning home from a mission.

Imo is located in the southeast of the country and has a Christian majority.

Church officials confirmed the kidnapping in a statement and called for prayers for his safe return.

Father Princewill Iwuanyanwu said in his statement: “Relying on your good will and solidarity, we await your fervent prayers for his safe return to us.”

The police launched an investigation not only to save the priest, but also to bring his kidnappers to justice.

“The CP (Commissioner of Police) has set up a high-powered investigation team to investigate this matter for the possible rescue of the Catholic priest and the arrest of the suspects,” Imo state police spokesman Henry Okoye said.

Calls for his release have occupied social media not only in Nigeria but across Africa.

St. St. in the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu, who wrote about X. Father Petros Mwale of the Martin de Porres Catholic Parish said his abduction raised concerns about the safety of clergy in Nigeria.

“This tragic incident raises serious concerns for the safety of religious leaders in the country. We pray for his speedy and safe release,” the Malawian priest wrote.

Azubuike’s kidnapping follows a disturbing pattern of kidnappings targeting priests and religious in Nigeria. Just a week ago, Father Thomas Oyode, Rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Auchi Catholic Diocese, was kidnapped on October 27 and remains in captivity. On June 9, Father Gabriel Ukeh was taken from a rectory in the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan.

Earlier this year, on May 21, Yola Diocese priest Father Oliver Buba was kidnapped, but was later released. Similarly, on May 15, the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha reported the abduction of Father Basil Gbuzuo, who was later released.

A recent report by Abuja-based security firm Beacon Consulting reveals that 4,067 people were kidnapped and 9,734 killed by gunmen in 2023.

These incidents underscore the growing threat facing not only the clergy but also ordinary Nigerians; Kidnappings for ransom are increasingly used as a source of financing by terrorists and gunmen.

“Kidnappings are very common and occur almost every day,” said Emeka Umeagbalassi, Director of Intersociety, the Catholic-inspired International Association for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law.

He suggested that the kidnappings could have been carried out with the complicity of government soldiers.

“There are military barricades everywhere. “We strongly suspect that the kidnappers ‘deployed’ the soldiers after any successful operation,” Emeka said. turning point.

“To settle” as Emeka uses it means to bribe or give a kickback.

Sokoto Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah described the situation as “an epidemic of kidnapping”.

Last year, the bishop said his diocese spent 30 million naira (about $37,200) to rescue Church staff from kidnappers.

At least $18.34 million was paid in ransoms – mostly by families and the government – ​​between June 2011 and March 2020, according to SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence, a Lagos-based political risk analysis firm.

Nigeria has been rocked by the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009; This situation has been further aggravated by the rampant activities of Fulani herdsmen and other criminal elements. Many have turned to kidnapping for ransom as a safer means of financing.

Earlier this year in March, gunmen kidnapped 280 school children in Kaduna and demanded a ransom of about $600,000.

“The government is not paying a penny to anyone, and the government is optimistic that these children and other people will be returned safely to their families,” Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said.

The president had previously stated that from now on, kidnappers will be treated the same as terrorists.

Kukah told turning point He was happy that President Bola Tinubu said he now considers the kidnapping an “act of terrorism”.

“It is heartening to hear the President announce that kidnapping and banditry will now be considered acts of terrorism,” the bishop said.

“If so, we need to see a ruthless and unrelenting plan to end this threat with a definitive timeline that will bring these terrorists to their knees at all costs. “If there is no timetable to eliminate these evil, vile, malevolent and disgusting demons among us, our future as a people will be at risk,” he said.