Kidnapped Nigerian bishop, Catholics pray for his safety

The bishops of Nigeria have called for prayers for the safety and release of a Nigerian Catholic bishop who was kidnapped on Sunday in Owerri, the capital of the state of Imo in Nigeria.

Bishop Moses Chikwe "is said to have been kidnapped on the night of Sunday 27 December 2020," said the secretary general of the Nigerian bishops' conference.

Bishop Chikwe is the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Owerri in Nigeria.

“Up to now there has been no communication from the kidnappers”, Fr. This was stated by Zacharia Nyantiso Samjumi in a press release obtained by ACI Africa on December 28th.

"Trusting in the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we pray for her safety and her speedy release", the secretary general of the CSN added a press release released under the title: "SAD EVENT FROM OWERRI".

Various sources have confirmed to ACI Africa the kidnapping of a 53-year-old Nigerian bishop, indicating that the bishop's location remains unknown.

“Last night I spoke to the archbishop and asked him to let me know if something new happens. Still nothing, ”a Catholic bishop in Nigeria told ACI Africa on December 29, referring to Archbishop Anthony Obinna of the archdiocese of Owerri.

According to The Sun, the abduction took place along the Port Harcourt road in Owerri at around 20pm local time.

Bishop Chikwe "was kidnapped along with his driver in his official car," The Sun reported, citing eyewitnesses, who added that the bishop's vehicle "was later returned to the Assumpta roundabout, while the occupants were believed had been taken to an unknown destination ”.

An anti-kidnapping police unit has started investigating the kidnapping, the newspaper reported.

The kidnapping of Bishop Chikwe is the latest in a series of kidnappings that have targeted clergy in Nigeria, but previous kidnappings have involved priests and seminarians, not bishops.

On December 15, Fr. Valentine Oluchukwu Ezeagu, a member of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy (SMMM) was kidnapped in Imo State on his way to his father's funeral in neighboring Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. The next day he was "released unconditionally".

Last month, Fr. Matthew Dajo, a Nigerian priest from the archdiocese of Abuja, was kidnapped and released after ten days of imprisonment. Several sources in Nigeria told ACI Africa about the ransom negotiations following Fr. Dajo's kidnapping on November 22, some sources point to the kidnappers' request for hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

Earlier this month, the US State Department listed Nigeria among the worst countries for religious freedom, describing the West African nation as a "country of particular concern (CCP)." 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 action of the US State Department was praised by the leadership of the Knights of Columbus, with the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson, declaring on December 16: “Christians in Nigeria have suffered severely at the hands of Boko Haram and other groups ".

Murders and kidnappings of Christians in Nigeria now "border on genocide," Anderson added on December 16.

"Nigeria's Christians, both Catholics and Protestants, deserve attention, recognition and relief now," Anderson added, adding: "Nigeria's Christians should be able to live in peace and practice their faith without fear."

According to a special report published in March by the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), "no less than 20 clergymen, including at least eight Catholic priests / seminarians, have been shot dead in the last 57 months 50 kidnapped or kidnapped. "

Catholic bishops in Nigeria, which is the most populous nation in Africa, have repeatedly called on the government led by Muhammadu Buhari to put in place strict measures to protect its citizens.

“It is simply unimaginable and inconceivable to celebrate Nigeria at 60 when our roads are not safe; our people are kidnapped and they sell their properties to pay the ransom to the criminals, "CBCN members said in a collective statement on October 1.