K!dnapped Kaduna Catholic Priest Fr£ed After Two Months in Capt!vity

Kidnapped Kaduna Catholic Priest Freed After Two Months in Captivity

Fr. Bobbo Paschal, a Catholic priest abducted during an armed attack on St. Stephen Parish in the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese on November 17, 2025, has regained his freedom after spending nearly two months in captivity.
The release was confirmed on Friday, January 17, 2026, by the Nigerian Metropolitan See in a statement issued on behalf of the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Mathew Man-Oso Ndagoso.
According to the statement signed by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Fr. Christian Okewu Emmanuel, Fr. Paschal was released “from the hands of his kidnappers today, January 17, 2026.”
The Archbishop expressed profound gratitude to security agencies for their sustained efforts and thanked “all people of goodwill for their prayers, support, and solidarity throughout this period of anxiety and uncertainty.”
Rising Insecurity in Nigeria
Nigeria continues to face escalating insecurity driven by criminal gangs responsible for indiscriminate attacks, kidnappings for ransom, and killings across several regions of the country.
The situation has been compounded by the long-running Boko Haram insurgency, which began in 2009 and has destabilized large parts of northern Nigeria. In addition, violent attacks linked to armed groups commonly described as Fulani herdsmen or Fulani militia have further worsened the security landscape in many communities.
Clergy Increasingly Targeted
The abduction of Fr. Paschal adds to a disturbing pattern of kidnappings targeting Christian clergy in Africa’s most populous nation.
In July 2025, three minor seminarians were abducted during an armed attack on the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in the Catholic Diocese of Auchi. Despite ransom payments and appeals, the seminarians endured months in captivity. Two were later released, while one died while in captivity, sparking nationwide outrage.
International Attention on Nigeria
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom violations. Commenting on the designation, the Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Abuja, Fr. Hyacinth Ichoku, described the move as an opportunity rather than hostility.
“Anyone who can support us with equipment and help our soldiers in their war against bandits should be encouraged. That is what Trump wants for our country,”
Fr. Paschal’s release has been welcomed by the Catholic community, though concerns remain over the continued targeting of religious institutions amid Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.