#BreakingNews a Catholic Studying to be a Priest is Burned Alive in Nigeria and Another is Kidnapped - RIP Seminarian Danlami

Aid the Church in Need International reported the latest attack on the Catholic Church in Nigeria, in which a seminarian was burned to death in the diocese of Kafanchan, as well as the kidnapping of another seminarian in southern Kaduna. 

On Thursday September 7th, in the evening a large group of Fulani bandits attacked and set fire to the rectory of St. Raphael parish, Fadan Kamantan, in the diocese of Kafanchan, in the state of Kaduna.According to information sent to the international Catholic charity by different sources and confirmed by the Bishop of Kafanchan, Msgr. Julius Kundi – the parish priest Fr. Emmanuel Okolo and the assistant priest were able to escape the fire, but a seminarian, Na’aman Danlami, age 25, (pictured on the left) died in the attack. Speaking by telephone to ACN, Bishop Kundi said: “The attackers were aiming to kidnap the parish priest. When they failed in their attempt to enter the father’s house, they set it on fire. The two priests were able to escape but, terribly, the seminarian was burned inside.” “The assault lasted more than an hour, but there was no reaction or support from the military forces. 

“It’s a terrible loss. We recovered the body of Na’aman Danlami this morning and took it to the morgue. This seminarian is the second member we have lost in the diocese at the hands of terrorist attacks by Fulani bandits, last year Father John Mark Cheitnum, Director of Communications of the diocese of Kafanchan, was kidnapped and brutally murdered”, said Bishop Kundi. 

Another seminarian, named Ezequiel Nuhu (pictured on the right), was kidnapped on Thursday in Kaduna, along with his father. Nuhu is a seminarian in Abuja, but had gone to Southern Kaduna to spend a holiday with his family. Nigeria has been a particularly dangerous country for Catholic clergy in recent years. In 2022 four priests were killed in the country and 28 were kidnapped. In 2023 the number of members of the clergy victims of kidnapping has already reached fourteen.
The diocese asks for prayers for the repose of Na’aman Danlami and for consolation for his family and his community. It also prays for the safety and quick release of Ezekiel Nuhu.

Sources: Fides and ACN International