Gunmen Kill Catholic Priest, 17 Others Kidnapped In Niger

Reverend Father John Gbakaan Yaji, a Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Minna, has been reportedly killed by gunmen in Niger state.

The priest who was abducted Friday night in Tufa village along Lambata-Lapai road of the state, was found dead on Sunday.

The cleric was seized on his way to his station after a religious meeting in Lambata.

The late Priest was kidnapped alongside his brother but the whereabouts of the brother remains unknown.

All efforts to get comments from the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Niger, ASP Abiodun Wasiu, was unsuccessful but a Reverend of the Catholic Diocese of Minna, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying that search has intensified towards recovering the younger brother of the priest.

Meanwhile, 17 people have also been kidnapped by bandits in three communities in Bassa/Kukoki ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The people were kidnapped on Saturday night in Madagwa, Wongo and Marenje communities, according to report in Nation.

It was learnt that the bandits stormed the town at different times on Saturday night.
It was also gathered that five people were abducted from Wongo and Marenje communities while about seven people were abducted from Madagwa.

The Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, confirmed the abduction, saying the whereabouts of the victims were yet to be identified.

He described the abductions as disheartening and unfortunate, saying “it is unfair that the locals have been left to their fate.

Kokki lamented that kidnappings and other related criminal activities have become the order of the day in the entire Rafi and Shiroro Local Governments areas of Niger State.

Also, about 20 other people, who were on their way to Madaka market, were said to have been kidnapped by the bandits from Duguru in Madaka Ward of Rafi Local Government Area, Niger State on Thursday.