Unknown Gunmen on Thursday night invaded the home of another Catholic priest in Chawai Chiefdom of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
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It was gathered that the assailants stormed the area last night intending to kidnap Reverend Fr. Joseph Shekari but met his absence.
Reports gathered, reveals that the target was abducted in similar circumstances in February 2022 but was released after a ransom was paid.
Shekari was said to have travelled out of the village when the gunmen stormed his resident. However, the assailants reportedly abducted the Catechist of St. Monica Catholic Church, Ikulu-Pari, Kefas Ishaya, upon meeting Shekari’s absence.
It was gathered that the parish had held its annual Thanksgiving Service last Sunday, and members of the church suspect the abductors were targeting the money recovered from the programme, having succeeded in carting away what was generated in February 2022 in a similar attack.
Confirming the Thursday night attack to reporters, Sunday Bage, the Chairman of Ikulu Zone of the parish, said the gunmen arrived in the area around 9:30 PM last night.
“Thank God Father (Reverend) travelled. They didn’t get him, but they picked our Catechist. They dragged the Catechist to the bush. They took him with his phone. We have been calling the line but it keeps ringing out,” The PUNCH quoted Bage saying.
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According to him, the terror group were many and kept shooting sporadically, moving through the Church, the school and the priest’s residence in search of the Rev Father.
Some residents who also confirmed the attack to the news platform explained that the gunmen broke into the priest’s residence after scaling through the fence and forced their way into his house with stones and bullets to break the entrance.
“Immediately they broke into the house, they searched and ransacked everywhere. They checked under the beds, wardrobes, bathrooms and kitchen.
“They even checked the ceiling, but Father had travelled. So, they did not get him. In anger, they took our Catechist. As we speak, he is with them in the bush.
“It is a very sad situation. This is devastating. They dragged Catechist on the ground like a dog,” a woman who spoke on anonymity told journalists.
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She recalled that it was not long ago that Fr Shekari was abducted and rescued after a huge ransom was paid.
“They came again to take him. Luckily, he wasn’t in. This is really a dark period for us,” he said.
