BREAKING: Catholic Priest Shot Dead In Benue, Another Kidnapped In Kaduna

A Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Ferdinand Fanen Ngugban, has been shot dead in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

Daily Trust gathered that Fr. Ferdinand Ngugban of St. Augustine Aye Twar parish in Katsina Ala LGA was killed by bandits who raided the community and set many houses on fire.

The Council Chairman of Kastina-Ala, Joseph Atera, told our correspondent by telephone that the bandits, who attacked the priest at the church premises, also killed three others.

But Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Benue Command, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed only the killing of the priest.

“Attack on St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Aye-Twar village, Agu centre in Kastina-Ala LGA by bandits is confirmed. Rev. Fr. Nguban Fanen lost his life during the attack.

“The corpse has been deposited at General Hospital, Kastsina-Ala while a joint operation of Police and other security agencies are on the trail of the hoodlums,” Anene said.

Catholic Priest Abducted In Kaduna

A priest, Reverend Father Anthony Dawah of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, has been kidnaped.

Daily Trust gathered that he was abducted alongside the wife and child of a catechist and a domestic staff of the church located a place called Dogon Kurmi in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna.

Details of the incident were sketchy at the time of this report but the Communication Director of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Reverend Father Stephen Onyena, confirmed the abduction.

The Archbishop of Kaduna diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Man-sos Ndagose, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him on the development.

The police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Jalige, said the command is not aware of the abduction.

He, however, promised to get back with details of the incident.

The development comes three days after eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Kaduna were abducted.

Thirty-nine students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, still in Kaduna, have spent nearly three weeks in captivity.