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Tag: Catholic Church

Catholic Church Official Abducted in Southern Kaduna Amid Fresh Attacks
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Catholic Church official, Mr. Thomas Yahaya, has been abducted by suspected armed men in Magamia community, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in what residents say is another wave of fresh attacks in Southern Kaduna.
Yahaya, who is the younger brother of the Agwatyap III, the paramount ruler of Atyap Chiefdom, was abducted from his residence between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. on Wednesday. The incident reportedly occurred near a military post within the community.
Family sources told Daybreak Nigeria on Friday and Saturday that the abductors, believed to be armed Fulani militia, have demanded a ransom of N50 million. Mr. Katuka Mutua, a close relative, said he was informed of the abduction early Thursday.
“Just on Thursday morning, I received a call that my younger brother, Thomas Yahaya, the younger brother of Agwatyap III, was abducted between 11 and 12 a.m. on Wednesday,” Mutua said. “Some Fulani militia came, knocked on his door, and when he opened, they saw him and asked him to follow them.”
Mutua expressed concern over what he described as a lack of response from the nearby military post during the attack. “There is a military post very close to the house, but there was no response from their end,” he said.
He added that the victim’s wife was initially taken alongside him but was later released due to her medical condition. “When they started moving into the bush, they began shooting. They later told the wife to return home because she wasn’t physically okay.”
The family noted that this is not the first time the Agwatyap royal family has suffered such attacks. Mutua recalled a similar incident in November 2019 when another younger brother of the traditional ruler, Sadengi, was killed after going to the farm and failing to return.
“It’s almost four or five years now since that incident,” he said.
Yahaya, who is in his early forties, is a farmer and a dedicated member of the Catholic Church, where he serves as an official. Due to recurring attacks in the area, he had relocated to Zonkwa but returned home for the ongoing harvest season.
Residents of Magamia and surrounding communities continue to express fear over persistent insecurity, despite the presence of security personnel in the area.
As of press time, security agencies had not issued an official statement regarding the abduction.
November 22, 2025
Thugs invade Catholic church, cart away PVC Registration machines in Lagos
Thugs on Friday disrupted the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Ijesha, Surulere area of Lagos State.
The thugs carted away the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Continuous Voter Registration machines.
The incident happened less than 72 hours before the CVR’s closure by INEC.
Following the incident, the Parish Priest locked up the church while people scampered for safety.
An eyewitness who identified herself as Dr. Ambassador Princess Okojie Igbemudia said the thugs stormed the church and disrupted the exercise because those registering will vote for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
It was learnt that the police had been deployed to the area to ensure peace and order.
July 29, 2022
Catholic Church Holds Funeral Mass For Members Killed In Owo
It’s a solemn day in Owo, Ondo State as the victims of the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church are laid to rest in the town.
This followed a funeral mass held on Friday in honour of the victims whose remains had been deposited at the morgue of the Saint Louis Catholic Hospital in Owo.
After the funeral mass was completed, families of the victims took the remains of their loved ones for burial in the town.
Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and a former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, were among the dignitaries present at the mass.
Some clergymen, including Bishop Jude Arogundade of Ondo Catholic Diocese and Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, were also in attendance.
No fewer than 40 persons were killed in the attack which has received wide condemnation across the country.
June 17, 2022
Scores Killed As Armed Herdsmen Attack Catholic Church In Ondo
Suspected terrorists are said to have blown up St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Emerging reports suggest that many worshippers have died and several others have been left injured following the explosion at the church which is situated close to the palace of the Olowo of Owo
As of the time of filing this report, the security operatives were yet to give a detailed statement regarding the development.
However, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has expressed deep sadness over what he calls an unprovoked attack and killing of innocent people of Owo, worshiping at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street.
In his reaction to the tragic event, Governor Akeredolu said the vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.
“It is a black Sunday in Owo. Our hearts are heavy. Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people. This is a personal loss, an attack on our dear state.
“I have spoken to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Most Reverend Jude Arogundade, who is presently on his way to Owo. Similarly, I have had to cut short my party’s national assignment in Abuja and visit Owo immediately.
“This is an unexpected development. I am shocked to say the least. Nevertheless, We shall commit every available resource to hunt down these assailants and make them pay. We shall never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in our resolves to rid our state of criminals.
“I commiserate with my people in Owo, particularly families of the those who lost their lives to this ugly and unfortunate attack. I extend my condolences to Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye as well as the Catholic Church,” Akeredolu stated.
The governor urged the people to remain calm and vigilant. Do not take laws into your hands, adding that he has spoken to the heads of the security agencies.
Akeredolu further stated that he has equally been assured that security operatives would be deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom.
June 5, 2022
Gunmen Invade Catholic Church, Abduct Two Priests And Their Visitors
Four persons, including two Catholic priests, have been abducted by gunmen in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria.
The clergymen are the Mai Kanbu Parish Priest, Father Stephen Ojapa, and Father Oliver Okpara along with two of their visitors, all boys.
“No information as to their whereabouts. Kindly pray for their safety and release,” a statement from the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Fr Chris Omotosho, added.
Sources revealed that the gunmen broke into the St. Patrick Catholic Church rectory at Gidan Mai Kanbu at about 1:00 am on Wednesday.
Although police authorities in the state are yet to confirm the incident, residents said the gunmen stormed the community in their numbers but this time without motorcycles.
The police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, said the command has not received any report regarding the incident. He, however, assured that details of the incident will be communicated soon.
This attack is coming barely one day after gunmen killed at least twelve people at Gakurdi village in Jibia Local Government Area of the state.
They also burnt farmlands belonging to the villagers during the early morning operation that lasted hours.
An eyewitness said the attackers, armed with weapons, arrived in the village on four motorcycles and started shooting sporadically in the air to disperse the residents.
This development, according to the eyewitness, however, caused panic in the area, leaving residents scampering for safety in the neighboring communities.
Isah said that some of the victims of the attack were villagers who had attempted to escape into their farmlands.
He explained that security operatives were already on the matter as the Commissioner of Police, Idris Dauda Dabban, led a team of security operatives including himself to the village for an on-the-spot assessment.
May 25, 2022
Catholic Church Suspends Priest for Joining 2023 Guber Race
The Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Gboko, the Most Reverend William Avenya, has suspended a priest, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, from public ministry for getting involved in partisan politics.
The priest is a Benue State governorship contender on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
His suspension was contained in a letter to all Priests, Religious and Laity, Catholic Diocese of Gboko, dated May 20, 2023 and signed by the Bishop. It is titled, ‘Suspension of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia from Sacred Ministry.’
Part of the letter read: “I write to communicate to you the suspension of my priest, Revd. Fr. Hyacinth lormem Alia from public ministry after series of admonitions to him.
“The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own. You are aware that my son, your brother and your priest has purchased the party forms to contest for the Office of the Governor of Benue State under the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), which is totally against our vocation.
“Therefore, to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Church in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, I have suspended him from the exercise of sacred ministry.
“This canonical suspension takes effect from the moment it is communicated to him and lasts until he ceases from contumacy.”
Reacting to the suspension of the priest, the Head of Media and Publicity, Alia 2023 Gubernatorial Organization, Mr. Kula Tersoo, in a statement, described the development as ‘a normal practice of the church’.
May 22, 2022
Catholic Church bans Mbaka from partaking in political matters
The Catholic church has banned Ejike Mbaka, Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), from commenting on partisan politics.
According to the Cable, Callistus Onaga, Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, in a letter to the priest also converted the adoration ministry to chaplaincy.
Following the development, Mbaka will no longer solely oversee the activities of the ministry as its spiritual director, as making it chaplaincy, brings it under the control of the Enugu Diocese and gives the bishop the power to appoint a chaplain to oversee its operations.
The bishop further stated that he can appoint any ministerial officer “to assist the chaplains to oversee the pastoral activities of the ministry.”
These directives were announced following Mbaka’s resumption to church activities of the ministry which was suspended following his one-month private retreat.
June 4, 2021
Catholic Church will not approve LGBTQ or same sex unions – Vatican
The Vatican has disclosed that the Catholic Church will not bless same-sex unions, in a statement approved by Pope Francis that threatens to widen the chasm between the church and much of the LGBTQ community.
Explaining the decision in a lengthy note on Monday, the Holy See referred to homosexuality as a “choice,” suggested it is sinful and said it “cannot be recognized as objectively ordered” to God’s plans; a combative stance that is certain to disappoint millions of gay and lesbian Catholics around the world.
“The blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit,” the Vatican’s top doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote in the statement.
God “does not and cannot bless sin,” the statement added.
Pope Francis, who has frequently been praised for his welcoming tone towards LGBTQ people both within and outside the Church, approved the note.
The decision is a setback for Catholics who had hoped the institution will modernize its approach to homosexuality.
Dozens of countries, including many in western Europe, have legalized same-sex marriages, and the Church’s reticence to embrace LGBTQ people has long held the potential to alienate it from younger followers.
“It is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage, as is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex,” the statement said.
The statement says that gays and lesbians, as individuals, may receive a blessing if they live according to Church teaching.
“[This decision] does not preclude the blessings given to individual persons with homosexual inclinations, who manifest the will to live in fidelity to the revealed plans of God as proposed by Church teaching.”
Blessing same-sex unions, the Vatican said, will send a sign that the Catholic Church approves and encourages “a choice and a way of life that cannot be recognized as objectively ordered to the revealed plans of God.”
The statement says that “God Himself never ceases to bless each of His pilgrim children in this world … but he does not and cannot bless sin.”
In a commentary provided with the statement, the Vatican stated that “the negative judgment on the blessing of unions of persons of the same sex does not imply a judgment on persons.”
The statement was issued as a “response” to questions from pastors and the faithful on the question.
March 15, 2021