Catholic Priest Abducted in Zamfara by Suspected Bandits

Suspected bandits abducted Revd. Fr. Mikah Suleiman, the parish priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church in Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State. The kidnapping occurred at approximately 3 am on Saturday at his residence in the Damba area of Gusau.

According to Yazid Abubakar, spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, the abduction was not initially reported to the police. However, upon learning of the incident, the police deployed a tactical squad to track the kidnappers and ensure the safe return of Fr. Suleiman. “Yes, the incident happened early today,” Abubakar confirmed. “The Reverend Father was kidnapped in his residence. We were not informed immediately, but we have now deployed our tactical squad to rescue the victim unharmed.”

The acting Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Very Revd. Fr. Nuhu Iliya, also confirmed the abduction in a statement. “With sadness in our hearts, we write to inform the general public of the kidnap of one of our priests, Revd. Fr. Mikah Suleiman. This sad event occurred in the early hours of today, Saturday, 22nd June 2024, in the Father’s rectory. Fr. Mikah is the Parish Priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church, Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State,” the statement read.

The Diocese has called on the public to pray for the priest’s quick and safe release, invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests.

Authorities are actively working to secure Fr. Suleiman’s release and ensure his safety.