Sad as Catholic priests account for 23 kidnappings in 2024
By Anthony Maliki
The religious especially from the Catholic denomination were hard hit in 2024 as 23 priests, religious sisters, and seminarians were kidnapped in the outgone year making them a favourable target for ransom.
In the course of these abductions, a Benedictine novice, Brother Godwin Eze, was killed having being kidnapped alongside two others, Brothers Anthony Eze and Peter Olarewaju, on the night of October 17, 2024, from the Benedictine Monastery in Eruku, Kwara State at about 1am.
Walking all-night without shoes, upon reaching a river, the kidnappers shot him and threw his body into the water to intimidate the others. The two others were later released on October 21.
However, the abduction of the Catholic priests in 2023 were 28 with four fatalities. However, exact figures of those abducted might be difficult to get as many go unreported for other safety reasons.
According to reports sourced by DAYLIGHT REPORTERS, eight priests were abducted as at June 22, 2024 with six released, possibly after ransom payments while Fathers Christian Ike and Mikah Suleiman were freed at a later date.
Also, on 9 June, armed men broke into the rectory of St. Thomas Church, Kafanchan in Kaduna State and abducted Rev. Father Gabriel Ukeh. He was however released the next day after physical torture by the kidnappers. It was not certain if ransom was paid for his release.
Before these incidences, Rev. Father Oliver Buba of Yola Diocese was abducted from his residence at St. Rita Catholic Church, Bare in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State on May 21, 2024. He was, however, freed on May 30.
In the same week, Father Basil Gbuzuo of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, was also kidnapped but later released.
In November 2024, Rev. Father Tomas Oyode, serving as Rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor seminary of Agenebode, Edo State, was freed after 11 days in captivity.
Besides, on November 5, 2024, Father Emmanuel Azubuike, pastor of St. Theresa Obollo Parish of the Diocese of Okigwe, was kidnapped on his way back home from an assignment.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), between May 2023 and April 2024, Nigerians paid approximately N2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers.
It pointed out that the amount exceeds Nigeria’s 2024 defence budget of N1.647 trillion, highlighting the severe economic impact of kidnapping on the country.
The total ransom paid during this period is equivalent to 8.2% of Nigeria’s total federal budget for 2024, which stands at N28.8 trillion.
The report indicated that 65% of households affected by kidnapping incidents resorted to paying ransoms, with an average payment of N2.67 million per household
