A Catholic priest in Kaduna State, Reverend Father Slyvester Okechukwu, who was kidnapped by bandits in the Kaura Local Government Area on Tuesday night, has been killed by his abductors.
The deceased, was until his death the priest in charge of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Tachira, in the local government area.
The police in Kaduna State are yet to confirm the incident but the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Jacob Shanet, confirmed the sad incident in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the late priest was kidnapped from his home at about 9pm on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and was later killed in the early hours of Wednesday, March 5, which coincided with Ash Wednesday.
He said that the reason for the brutal murder of the priest remained unknown.
The statement described the late priest as a selfless servant of God, who was dedicated to spreading the message of peace, love, and hope, noting that his death has left a deep void in the diocesan community.
The clergy called on youths and community members to remain calm and steadfast in prayer, warning against any act of lawlessness in the face of the unfortunate incident.
The late priest was born on December 11, 1980, and was ordained a priest of the Catholic Church on February 11, 2021.
This was not the first time Fr. Okechukwu had been kidnapped. In December 2022, he was abducted from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fadan Kono, Kauru LGA, but was released after three days in captivity.
