By Babs Oyetoro
The Catholic Church community in Nigeria has once again been thrown into mourning following the tragic murder of two priests, Rev Fr Vitus Borogo, and Rev Fr Christopher Odia, by bandits in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna and Ikabigbo in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, respectively.

This is coming nearly two months after bandits killed over 40 persons and injured many others at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State when they fired at the congregation during a service to mark the holiday of Pentecost.

However, until his murder, Borogo 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.

Chancellor of Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, Reverend Father Christian Okewu, said in a statement, that Father Borogo was killed on Saturday at the Nigerian Prison Farm in Kujama along the Kaduna-Kachia Road in Chikun LGA.

Reacting 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.

He said details of the funeral arrangement for the murdered priest would be announced soon.

The Police in Kaduna had yet to issue a statement on the murder of the priest.

However, Ndagoso called for prayers for the peaceful repose of his soul and consolation for his bereaved family.

Borogo 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.

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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.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, Odia, who was abducted by Fulani herdsmen in the early hours of yesterday, was later found to have been killed by his abductors.

ThisNigeria learnt that he was abducted amid sporadic shooting by the suspected herdsmen who also killed two other persons while a third victim reportedly sustain serious injuries in the Ikabigbo community.

Odia, it was learnt, was preparing to go for Sunday Mass in the early hours of the morning when gunmen stormed his residence in the community and abducted him into the bush.

During the shooting, a mass server and a member of the local vigilante were shot, while another vigilante member sustained serious injuries.
It was later learnt that the mass servant survived the gunshots and just emerged from the theatre at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH).

Meanwhile, the brave youth who chased the kidnappers were able to apprehend one of the suspected kidnappers who in the cause of the confrontations injured several persons including a woman said to have been hit by a stray bullet but survived it.

A leader of the community, who did not want his name mentioned for security reasons, said late last night, “Our boys pursued the kidnappers into the bush and they killed one of our boys but the mass servant who was shot is in Otibhor (ISTH) right now and he just came out of the theatre and he survived it, it was the vigilante that died.

“Our boys went after them and were able to arrest one of the kidnappers who has confessed to the crime and he is presently at the Area Command of the Police in Auchi. After the incident, our boys surrounded the area and they started shooting anybody, they even shot a woman that was coming from the farm after they killed the vigilante member, they shot so many people.

“Everybody in our village is a warrior, when they killed the vigilante, the people mobilized and started pursuing the kidnappers with their bare hands.”

A statement by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa while announcing the killing of Odia said “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. Burial arrangements will be announced by the Diocese later.”

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When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor while confirming the developments, said he was expecting a detailed briefing from the police in the area

Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Bishop Gabriel Dunia, described the incident as a sad one.

“The situation is very riotous, the vigilante people are very angry. The Fulani, the two who have been arrested now are with the army,” Dunia added.

*Two abducted priests regain freedom in Sokoto

Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto State late yesterday announced that two reverend fathers and two others abducted by gunmen at Gidan Maikambo, Kafur local government of Katsina State have regained their freedom.

A statement issued by the Diocesan Director, Social Communication, Rev Fr Chris Omotosho, said “With hearts full of joy, we announced that our brethren Fr. Stephen Ojapa, Fr. Oliver Okpara, Mr. Hassan Hassan, and Ms Ummie Hassan, who were abducted by gunmen at midnight of May 25 in the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State, have all gained freedom.

“The statement further said they thanked everyone for their prayers, support, encouragement, and show of love, “May the name of the Lord be praised, now and forever. Amen! Thank you.”

The statement did not say whether ransom was paid before the gunmen freed them.