Over 200 abducted priests – Church leaders warn escalating attacks expose failure to protect Christian communities
By Mary Kiara
(Lagos) – Catholic priests in Nigeria have faced a decade of abductions and killings, with church leaders now warning that escalating attacks expose failures to protect Christian communities.
A Decade of Targeting Clergy
Over 200 Catholic priests have been abducted by terrorists across Nigeria since 2015, according to data compiled by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
In May 2015, Rev. Father Innocent Umor was asleep when terrorists stormed his parish house in Kogi state and seized him with ransom demands of $20,000.
Church officials say the decade-long attacks form a sustained pattern affecting dozens of dioceses rather than isolated incidents.
“The recurring carnage has become a stain on the conscience of our nation,” the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria said in a statement issued February 7 and shared with TruthNigeria.
“This is not instability but a massacre allowed by silence,” the Secretariat said.
More Than 200 Clergy Kidnapped
Church data shows the scale of the crisis facing Nigeria’s catholic clergy.
Between 2015 and 2025, of the over 200 abducted priests:
- 183 were released or escaped
- 12 were murdered
- 3 died later from injuries suffered in captivity
At least four priests remain missing, including:
- Rev. Father John Bako Shekwolo
- Rev. Father Emmanuel Ezema
- Rev. Father Joseph Igweagu
- Rev. Father Nathaniel Asuwaye
The Archdiocese of Kaduna has recorded the highest number of murdered priests over the past decade.
Among them:
· Rev. Father Joseph Bako, who died in captivity in May 2022 after being denied medical care
· Rev. Father Vitus Borogo, killed by Islamist militants in Kaduna in June 2022
· Rev. Father John Mark Cheitnum, murdered shortly after his abduction in July 2022.
· Rev. Father Sylvester Okechukwu, killed in March 2025, a day after he was abducted
Voices From the Front Lines
“More than 100 persons have been killed so far,” Rev. Fathers Anthony Bature, and Augustine Chifu said in a joint statement to TruthNigeria, describing genocidal attacks in Taraba State.
The priests revealed more than 90,000 Christians have been displaced and hundreds of communities destroyed.
“The Fulani militia has taken over the entire farmlands of the people,” they told TruthNigeria.
“They block roads and kill unsuspecting farmers with impunity.”
“Priests are often targeted because they are visible leaders within their communities,” Anuhe Aba, a retired Nigerian journalist, told TruthNigeria.
“Catholic schools and churches have faced some of the highest attacks in Nigeria and these repeated attacks have forced closures of churches and schools in many areas, which is the aim of these Fulani terrorists – Islamization,” Aba said.
Attacks Continuing Into 2026
The pattern has continued into 2026 with repeated attacks on clergy and worshippers.
In February, Rev. Father Nathaniel Asuwaye was abducted during a raid on his parish in Kaduna State, where Fulani terrorists killed three residents and seized multiple villagers, according to a statement from the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan.
Church officials say he remains in captivity.
Since January, multiple coordinated raids on Christian communities in central and northwestern Nigeria have resulted in killings, abductions, and displacement.
“In recent weeks, more than seven presbyteries and priests’ residences have been attacked and vandalized,” Bishop Mark Nzukwein of Wukari Diocese told TruthNigeria.
“This highlights a worrying escalation of violence,” he said.
Church Leaders Demand Government Action
Church leaders are increasingly calling for direct intervention by Nigerian authorities.
“We call on all tiers of government and security agencies to intensify efforts towards the protection of lives,” Catholic bishops from northern dioceses said in a joint appeal shared with TruthNigeria.
“A society cannot flourish where human life is continually threatened,” the bishops said.
They urged authorities to deploy additional personnel and resources to affected communities.
International Concern Growing
The violence has drawn attention from global church leadership.
“It is with sorrow and concern that I learned of the recent attacks in Nigeria,” Pope Leo XIV said during his Angelus prayer in Rome.
“I hope that the authorities will work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of every citizen,” the Pope said.
Religious freedom advocates say the continued targeting of clergy could carry broader implications.
A Pattern with No Clear End
More than a decade after insurgent violence escalated in northern Nigeria, Catholic clergy remain among the most exposed targets.
Church leaders warn that without decisive intervention, the cycle of abductions and killings will persist.
Analysts say attacks on clergy have effects beyond individual victims.
Priests often serve as the primary institutional presence in rural communities, providing education, humanitarian aid, and social stability.
Their abduction or killing weakens local structures and accelerates displacement.
Mary Kiara reports on terrorism and religious-freedom policy for TruthNigeria.
