Nigeria: priest kidnapped dead in the hands of kidnappers

"It is with a broken heart, but with total submission to the will of God that we announce the death of Father Joseph Aketeh Bako, which took place in the hands of his kidnappers between 18 and 20 April 2022".

Thus - reports the Vatican agency Fides - the chancellor of the Nigerian Archdiocese of Kaduna Father Christian Okewu Emmanuel announced the death of the parish priest of the Catholic church of St. John, in Kudenda in the local government area of ​​Kaduna South, in the state of Kaduna , kidnapped on March 8th.

Father Bako, 48, had been kidnapped by armed men who attacked the rectory at 1.30 am on the night of 8 March.

His brother had also been kidnapped with him and had gone to see him.

"His brother was killed in his presence and as a result of this, his condition (he had been ill for some time) worsened and he died" says the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kaduna.

"We have not recovered the body but we have confirmation of death. The people who were kidnapped with him saw him die," it is reported.

In the weeks following the kidnapping, rumors had spread of Father Bako's death as a result of alleged torture inflicted by the kidnappers.

The Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kaduna specified that "the circumstances that led to the death of Father Bako and the date of his death have been carefully checked, and that is why we can now communicate them".