File photo: An illustration of gunmen
Gunmen have abducted Emmanuel Ezema, a priest serving at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Rumi, Kaduna state.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Catholic diocese of Zaria, the gunmen took Ezema away from his parish residence shortly before midnight on Tuesday, December 2.
“We regret to officially announce the abduction of our priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ezema in his residence at St. Peter’s Catholic Church Rumi, on Tuesday 28 December, 2025 around 11.30pm,” the statement, signed by Isek Augustine, the diocese chancellor, reads.
“We call on all men and women of goodwill to pray for the safe and quick release of our priest and others from the hands of their abductors.”
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The abduction of the Catholic priest comes on the heels of the rising insecurity across the country.
On Monday, five students were abducted by suspected cultists in the Rumuche/Rumuohia community of Emohua LGA, Rivers state.
According to Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, about five armed men stormed an isolated part of the community around 2:30am, opened fire, and took the students to an unknown location.
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“On 2nd December 2025 at about 0230hrs, a group of suspected cultists, numbering about five, attacked an isolated area in Rumuche/Rumuohia community, Emohua Local Government Area,” Iringe-Koko said.
“The hoodlums shot and abducted five persons to an unknown destination.”
