A Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Emmanuel Silas, who was reportedly abducted on Monday has regained freedom barely 24 hours after his alleged abduction by gunmen.
Silas was said to have been kidnapped from the parish rectory at St. Charles Catholic Church in Zambina, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the early hours of Monday.
Confirming his release on Tuesday, The Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo, thanked everyone who offered prayers for the quick release of the priest.
“With hearts filled with joy, we raise our voices in a symphony of praises as we announce the return of our brother, Rev Fr Emmanuel Silas.
“He was abducted by armed persons from the parish rectory at St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, in Kauru Local Government Area, in the early hours of Monday, July 4th, 2022,” the Chancellor said.
While announcing the abduction of the priest on Monday, Father Okolo solicited prayers for the abducted priest and said the Diocese would adopt any legitimate means to ensure the quick and safe release of the priest.
“It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of our Priest, Rev Fr Emmanuel Silas. The event occurred in the early hours of July 04, 2022, when he could not turn up for morning Mass.
“He was abducted from the parish rectory at St. Charles Catholic Church, Zambina, in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“We solicit an intense prayer for his quick and safe release. We equally wish to call on all and sundry to refrain from taking the laws into their hands.
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“We will use every legitimate means to ensure his quick and safe release.
“May Jesus crucified on the Cross, listen to our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of His Priest and all other kidnapped persons,” the Chancellor said.
Meanwhile, this is coming less than a week after the remains of the slain Reverend Father Vitus Borogo, also a Catholic priest, killed by terrorists on his farm, were buried in the state capital on Thursday.
Borogo was killed on June 25, 2022, while his brother, CY Borogo was kidnapped by his killers.
The development sparked protests among priests in the Kaduna Archdiocese, forcing them to carry placards in venting their anger over the deteriorating spate of insecurity across the country, especially in the state.
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