Catholic priest in Nigeria found dead after kidnapping
The body of a Catholic priest was discovered on Saturday in Nigeria, the day after he was kidnapped by gunmen.
Agenzia Fides, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies, reported on January 18 that Fr. John Gbakaan "was allegedly executed with a machete so brutally that identification was nearly impossible."
The priest from the diocese of Minna, in the central belt of Nigeria, was attacked by unidentified men on the evening of January 15. He was traveling with his younger brother along Lambata-Lapai Road in Niger State after visiting his mother in Makurdi, Benue State.
According to Fides, the kidnappers initially asked for 30 million naira (about $ 70.000) for the release of the two brothers, subsequently reducing the figure to five million naira (about $ 12.000).
Local media said the priest's body was found tied to a tree on January 16. His vehicle, a Toyota Venza, was also recovered. His brother is still missing.
After Gbakaan's murder, Christian leaders called on the federal government of Nigeria to act to stop attacks on the clergy.
Local media quoted Rev. John Joseph Hayab, vice president of the Christian Association of Nigeria in northern Nigeria, as saying, “We are simply begging the federal government and all security agencies to do whatever it takes to bring this evil to a Stop. "
"All we ask of the government is protection from evil men who are destroying our lives and property."
The incident is the latest in a series of clergy kidnappings in Africa's most populous country.
On December 27, Bishop Moses Chikwe, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Owerri, was kidnapped along with his driver. He was released after five days of captivity.
On December 15, Fr. Valentine Oluchukwu Ezeagu, a member of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy, was kidnapped in the state of Imo on his way to his father's funeral in the neighboring state of Anambra. He was released the next day.
In November, Fr. Matthew Dajo, a priest of the archdiocese of Abuja, was kidnapped and released after 10 days of imprisonment.
Hayab said the wave of kidnappings was discouraging young people from pursuing priestly vocations.
"Today in northern Nigeria, many people live in fear and many young people are afraid of becoming shepherds because the life of the shepherds is in grave danger," he said.
"When bandits or kidnappers realize that their victims are priests or shepherds, it seems that a violent spirit takes possession of their heart to demand more ransom and in some cases it even goes so far as to kill the victim."
ACI Africa, CNA's African journalistic partner, reported that on January 10, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja said that the kidnappings would give the country "a bad name" internationally.
"Left unchecked by the Nigerian authorities, this shameful and disgusting act will continue to give Nigeria a bad reputation and scare the country's visitors and investors," he said.
Releasing its annual World Watch List report last week, defense group Open Doors said security in Nigeria has deteriorated to the point that the country has entered the top 10 worst countries for persecution of Christians.
In December, the US State Department listed Nigeria among the worst countries for religious freedom, describing the West African nation as a "country of particular concern."
This is a formal designation reserved for nations where the worst violations of religious freedom are occurring, the other countries being China, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.
The step was praised by the leadership of the Knights of Columbus.
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said that "Christians in Nigeria have suffered severely at the hands of Boko Haram and other groups".
He suggested that the killings and kidnappings of Christians in Nigeria "border on genocide".
He said: “Nigeria's Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, deserve attention, recognition and relief now. Christians in Nigeria should be able to live in peace and practice their faith without fear