A Nigerian Catholic bishop is calling for immediate government intervention following the recent murder of a priest in Kaduna State, adding to a growing list of clergy targeted in the country.
Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi of Kafanchan has expressed deep concern over the rising violence against Christian leaders, revealing that his diocese has recorded at least one clergy-related death every year since 2021. His call for justice comes after the abduction and murder of Father Sylvester Okechukwu on Ash Wednesday (March 4). Fr. Okechukwu was taken from his residence and found dead the following morning.
“The diocese is engulfed in anguish, and the land is heavy with anger,” Bishop Kundi stated. “How long shall our pastors and brethren be hunted like prey? The blood of Father Sylvester Okechukwu and all other innocent souls cries out for justice.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria also condemned the attack, describing it as a reflection of the nation’s deepening security crisis. “This heinous crime further highlights the alarming insecurity in our nation, particularly in northern Nigeria, where clergy members are repeatedly targeted, abducted, and killed with impunity,” the association said in a statement.
At least seven Catholic priests have been abducted in Nigeria since the beginning of the year. Among them is Fr. Philip Ekweli of Auchi Diocese, who was kidnapped on March 3, and Fr. Livinus Maurice of St. Patrick’s Church, Isokpo, who was taken on February 12. While security forces have rescued two priests in Adamawa State and killed a suspect in pursuit of Fr. Ekweli’s kidnappers, attacks against clergy remain widespread.
Nigeria currently ranks seventh on the Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution, with extremist groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militants responsible for thousands of Christian deaths. Since 2009, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed, and attacks on Christian communities continue to escalate.
Amid growing fears, church leaders are urging Nigerian authorities to take decisive steps to curb the violence and ensure the safety of Christian clergy and communities.
