News Editor
Two Catholic priests of the Archdiocese of Kaduna, Reverend Father Vitus Borogo and the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev Fr Christopher Idia have been killed in separate attacks on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
While Rev Fr Borogo was killed during a kidnap operation in Kujama, Fr Idia was abducted on Sunday morning and killed few hours later.
Borogo until his murder was the Chaplain of the Catholic Community of the Kaduna State Polytechnic, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Kaduna State Chapter.
Although the police authorities have yet to confirm the incident or give details about the attack, the Chancellor of Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, Reverend Father Christian Okewu, said in a statement, that Father Borough was killed on Saturday at the Nigerian Prison Farm in Kujama along the Kaduna-Kachia Road in Chikun LGA.
In reaction to the incident, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Most Reverend Matthew Ndagoso, condoled with the immediate family, the NFCS Family of Kaduna Polytechnic, and the entire Kaduna Polytechnic Community. He assured them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.
Details of the funeral arrangement for the murdered priest will be announced as soon as possible, according to the Archbishop.
He called for prayers for the peaceful repose of his soul and consolation for his bereaved family.
Reverend Father Borough is the second Catholic priest that has died at the hands of bandits in Chikun LGA of Kaduna in the past two months.
In May, another priest, Father Joseph Bako, had died in the custody of bandits who abducted him on March 8, from his pastoral residence of Saint John’s Catholic Church, Kudenda also in Chikun LGA.
The Archdiocese of Kaduna said Father Bako, who died eight weeks after his abduction, was ill before the bandits took him and held him without giving him access to his medication and proper medical care.
Reverend Father Odia, according to a statement issued by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area Estate, was killed by his abductors, who whisked him away from his rectory at Ikabigbo, Uzairue at about 6:30 am.
The statement signed by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, stated that the 41-year-old clergyman was until his murder, the principal of St. Philip Catholic Secondary School, Jattu.
The statement reads: “With heavy hearts but with total submission to the will of God, we announce the death of our priest Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, who was killed by his abductors after being kidnapped this morning 26th June 2022 at about 6.30am in his rectory while coming out to go for Sunday Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church Ikabigbo, Uzairue, Edo State.
“Until his death, Fr Odia was the administrator of St Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo and also the Principal of St. Philip Catholic Secondary School Jattu. He was aged 41. May his soul rest in peace.
