Gunmen miss Rev Father, abduct Catechist in Kaduna

• Published date: 20 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Gunmen on Thursday abducted Mr Kefas Ishaya, the Catechist of St. Monica Catholic Church, Ikulu-Pari, in Chawai Chiefdom of Kauru Local Government, Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gunmen picked the Catechist when they could not get his boss, Rev Fr Joseph Shekari, who was not in when his residence was attacked.

Fr Shekari, who was abducted in similar circumstances in February 2022, had travelled out of the village and was not available for a second ordeal in captivity.

The Parish had held its annual Thanksgiving Service on Sunday and its members suspect the abductors were targeting the proceeds having succeeded in carting away what was generated in February 2022.

Mr Sunday Bage, Chairman of Ikulu Zone of the Parish, told NAN that the abductors came 'around 9.30 p.m.'

'Thank God Father (Reverend) travelled. They didn't get him, but they picked our Catechist.

'They dragged the Catechist to the bush. They took him with his phone. We have been calling the line but it keeps ringing out,' he told NAN on phone.

He said that the gunmen were many and kept shooting sporadically, moving through the Church, the school and the Priest's residence in search of the Rev Father.

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Neighbours told NAN that the gunmen broke into the residence of the Priest after scaling through the fence.

They were said to have broken the main door to the house using stones and bullets.

'Immediately they broke into the house, they...