Nigeria: Kidnapped priest released

Fr Joe Keke - Image Fides

Source: Fides

Fr Joe Keke, the 75 year-old priest kidnapped on May 20 in a night attack on the parish of St Vincent Ferrer in Malunfashi, in the state of Katsina, in northern Nigeria has been released. In the morning after the raid, the body of his colleague, Father Alphonsus Bello, was found not far from the parish.

The Director of Communications of the diocese of Sokoto, Chris Omotosho, said: "We announce that Fr. Keke has been released from the hands of his captors. We thank those who prayed for his release." Fr Keke was taken to a health facility for a check up. t

Kidnappings for extortion happen every day in various areas of Nigeria. In many cases the victims include priests, and men and women religious - in spite of the fact that despite the Bishops' Conference forbids the payment of ransoms.

The Bishops have appealed many times for an end to the violence. At the funeral vigil of Fr Alfonso Bello, Mgr Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto, delivered a strong reprimand to the authorities, saying they do nothing to protect the population.

The Archbishop of Lagos, Bishop Alfred Adewale Martins said: "from north to south, all parts of the country are witnesses of one form or another of vandalism". Bishop Martins warned people against trying to take the law into their own hands, saying:"I hope that if people defend themselves, they recognize that they cannot be the aggressor and that they will only defend themselves when necessary".

The problem continues to be that of the pact between citizens and the State - the Archbishop said. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. When people enter into a social contract with the state, there are obligations and responsibilities on both sides to find a balance. People owe the State their civic duties, while the State owes the people the services they need to maintain their trust and build a better society."