By Paschal Norbert
KAFANCHAN, MARCH 7, 2025 (CISA) – Outrage and sorrow have gripped the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan following the brutal abduction and murder of Fr Sylvester Okechukwu. In a strongly worded press release, Rt Rev Julius Yakubu Kundi of Kafanchan Diocese has condemned the tragic wave of kidnappings and violence targeting priests and pastoral agents, calling it a “cruel assault on our faith, our humanity, and the peace of our State.”
“With deep sorrow and righteous indignation, I condemn in the strongest terms the relentless and tragic wave of kidnappings targeting priests, pastoral agents, and the faithful of our Diocese. The horrifying abduction and gruesome murder of my son, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, on March 5, 2025, is a cruel assault on our faith, our humanity, and the peace of our State,” said Bishop Kundi.
The Diocese is engulfed in anguish, with the bishop lamenting the increasing insecurity that has turned places of worship into grounds of fear rather than sanctuaries of hope.
“How long our pastors and brethren shall be hunted like prey? How long shall our places of worship become grounds for fear instead of sanctuaries of hope? The murder of Fr Okechukwu is not just an attack on the Church but a direct affront to the values of justice, peace, and human dignity,” he stated.
The killing of Fr. Okechukwu is not an isolated case. Bishop Kundi painfully recalled a series of past murders, highlighting the harrowing trend of religious persecution in the region: “We painfully recall the murder of Catechist Raymond Ya’u on July 21, 2021, in Matyei, Zangon Kataf LGA; Very Rev. Fr. Johnmark Cheitnum, who was abducted and murdered on July 14, 2022, at Yadin Garu, Lere LGA; Seminarian Naaman Stephen Ngofe, a 25-year-old seminarian murdered in Fadan Kamantan, Zangon Kataf, LGA, on September 7, 2023; and Catechist Istifanus Katunku, abducted on July 4, 2024, at Kagal, Zangon Kataf, LGA, whose whereabouts remain unknown. These atrocities deepen our sorrow and reinforce our demand for justice.”
The bishop decried the increasing abduction of lay faithful across Kafanchan and Southern Kaduna, stating that criminal elements continue to terrorize innocent citizens and devastate families.
“The outrageous ransoms demanded for their release not only devastate families but also pose a severe threat to food security and the general well-being of the people in Kafanchan Diocese and Southern Kaduna as a whole. The kidnappings have left communities in fear, disrupted livelihoods, and intensified economic hardship,” Bishop Kundi asserted.
The Diocese reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with security personnel and governmental authorities to address these growing dangers but emphasized that the Church cannot remain silent: “We recognize the ever-increasing threat to the security of our priests and the faithful. In the face of such barbarity, the Diocese is open to any collaboration with security personnel and governmental authorities to address these growing dangers. However, we cannot remain silent as our people live in fear, uncertain of what the future holds.”
Bishop Kundi demanded immediate action from the government and security agencies to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.
He emphasized, “We demand that the government and security agencies take immediate and decisive action to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. The blood of Fr Sylvester Okechukwu and all other innocent souls cry out for justice!”
As the Diocese mourns this grave loss, the bishop called on all parishioners and people of Southern Kaduna to remain calm and steadfast in prayer: “We implore the authorities to ensure that justice takes its full course and that those responsible for these atrocities are held accountable. Let us not allow anger to drive us into actions that would lead to further bloodshed.”
Despite the pain and grief, the Diocese remains unwavering in its faith. “We stand firm in our faith, seeking peace even in our pain as we embark on this journey of hope this Lenten Season. We pray that God grants eternal rest to our dear brother, Fr Sylvester Okechukwu, and to all those who have been taken from us unjustly. May He grant comfort to their families, the Diocese, and all who grieve these losses. May the light of truth, justice, and righteousness prevail over darkness and evil.”
