Kidnapped Catholic Priest Escapes from Abductors

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak, who was kidnapped in Abuja, has escaped from his captors, authorities confirmed on Friday.

Rev. Damulak, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Shendam in Plateau State and a student at Veritas University, Abuja, was abducted from his residence in Zuma, Bwari Area Council, in the early hours of Thursday, February 6, 2025.

The Niger State Police Command confirmed his escape, stating that he was found wandering along the Pogo-Paiko highway by a police patrol team attached to the Chanchaga Division.

“On February 14, 2025, at about noon, a suspected kidnapped victim was found roaming around Pogo-Paiko highway by a police patrol team. He was immediately rescued and taken to the station,” said SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command.

During interrogation, the victim was identified as 36-year-old Cornelius Damulak. Investigations revealed that he was abducted from his residence in Bwari, Abuja, at approximately 5:00 AM on February 6 by suspected kidnappers. He was reportedly moved between various forest locations before managing to escape on February 13.

Rev. Damulak trekked a significant distance before reaching the Pogo-Paiko highway in Minna, where he was found and rescued by the police. Authorities confirmed that he was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, and efforts are underway to reunite him with his family.

The police are continuing investigations into the abduction while working to apprehend the suspects responsible for the crime.