Gunmen suspected to be bandits have allegedly abducted two religious figures from St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Gyedna, Garam Ward, Tafa Local Government Area, Niger State.
The victims, identified as Fr Paul Sanogo and Seminarian Melchior, were taken from their residence during the early hours of Thursday.
Witnesses recounted that the kidnappers fired shots into the air for an extended period before abducting their victims.
Most Rev Dr Martin Igwe Uzoukwu, the Catholic Bishop of Minna, sent a message to church members requesting prayers for the kidnapped individuals, who were pastoral workers at St. Luke’s Catholic Church.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the incident and mentioned that police teams were dispatched to the location.
The church is situated on the outskirts of the town, surrounded by mountains and forests, and seminarians have been advised to temporarily relocate during the ongoing investigation.
