By CISA
KATSINA, MAY 21, 2021(CISA) – Fr Alphonsus Bello, parish priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, Malunfashi in Katsina State has been found dead while Fr Joe Keke is still missing after the two priests were kidnapped on the night of May 20.
“The lifeless body of Fr Alphonsus Bello was found this morning, Friday May 21, 2021, on the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malumfashi in Katsina State, which is part of Sokoto diocese under Bishop Matthew Kukah. The whereabouts of Fr Joe Keke is still unknown at the moment, and no contact has so far been made,” Fr Chris Omotosho Communications Director of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto said May 21.
According to Fr Chris, he had received an alert that at about 11:30 p.m. a gang had attacked the parish house where the two priests resided and abducted the two priests.
“This following an earlier report at about 1.35am by the Dean of Malumfashi Deanery, Fr Stephen Ojapah (MSP) that the parish house of St. Vincent Ferrer Church has been attacked by bandits numbering about 15, and Frs Joe Keke and Alphonsus Bello were kidnapped,” Fr Omotosho said.
Fr Alphonsus Bello until his death, was a Fidei Donum Priest from the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna and the parish priest of St. Vincent Ferrer, while Fr Joe Keke, 75, was a priest in residence.
