Nigeria Seminarian Burned To Death; Others Kidnapped

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

ABUJA (Worthy News) – A Catholic seminarian in Nigeria was killed after the rectory where he stayed was set on fire in a kidnapping attempt by Islamist Fulani Militants, a day after another seminarian and his father were abducted, Christians confirmed Friday.

Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi of Kafanchan in Nigeria’s state of Kaduna said in published remarks that seminarian Na’aman Danlami died when Fulanis attacked St. Raphael Fadan Kamantan Parish on Wednesday, September 7.

They then set the rectory ablaze, Kundi said, adding that the parish priest, Emmanuel Okolo, and his assistant escaped the fire in which the 25-year-old seminarian was killed.

“The attackers were aiming to kidnap the parish priest. When they failed in their attempt to enter the house, they set it on fire. The two priests could escape, but the seminarian was burned inside,” he added in a statement published by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International.

News of the latest attack targeting Christians in Nigeria came on the day the ACN was informed about Thursday’s kidnapping of another seminarian, Ezequiel Nuhu, and his father. Nuhu is a seminarian in Abuja, the capital, but had gone to Southern Kaduna to spend a holiday with his family, ACN said.

The charity appealed “for prayers” remembering Na’aman Danlami “and for consolation for his family and his community.” It also “prays for the safety and quick release of Ezekiel Nuhu.”

Catholics complained about a perceived lack of security support from Nigerian authorities, such as in the case of seminarian Danlami.

LONG ASSAULT

“The assault [targeting Danlami] lasted more than an hour, but there was no reaction or support from the military forces. A kilometer away, there is a checkpoint, but there was a total absence of reaction”, added the bishop.

He said, “It’s a terrible loss. We recovered the body of Na’aman Danlami this morning and took it to the morgue.”

ACN recalled that a “very similar incident took place in January 2022, when Catholic priest Father Isaac Achi was murdered and burned in his rectory. His assistant, Father Colins Omeh, suffered gunshot wounds.”

Nigeria has been a dangerous country for Catholic clergy and other Christians.

Last year alone, four priests were killed in the volatile African nation country, and 28 were kidnapped, according to ACN estimates.

In 2023, “the number of members of the clergy kidnapping has already reached fourteen,” ACN added.

Thousands of Christians have been killed and injured in Nigeria in attacks linked to Islamist fighters, according to church groups and rights activists.

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