The Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Bishop Stephen Mamza, has refuted claims that Taledo Damian, the recently arrested suspect behind the abduction of two Catholic priests, was a mass server, and has no connection with the diocese.
Speaking at a press conference in Yola, Bishop Mamza, clarified that the suspect was merely a member of the church with no official role as a mass server or a member of the priesthood.
He described the reports linking Damian to any role within the church as misleading, and harmful to the reputation of those who serve faithfully.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that the kidnapper is not a mass server, nor is he a cleric. He is simply a member of the church. There has been a lot of misinformation about his identity, and it is important to correct this,” Bishop Mamza stated.
He emphasized that mass servers’ play a crucial role in church activities, and that their integrity should not be unfairly tarnished by false reports.
Bishop Mamza also praised the swift action of the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups in rescuing the two abducted priests without any ransom payment. He expressed gratitude for their professionalism and dedication.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the security agents who played a role in securing the release of the priests. In particular, I give credit to the DSS, and the vigilante group in Numan. They carried out the rescue operation, and I am truly grateful for their swift, and professional handling of the situation,” he said.
Providing further details, the bishop explained that security operatives, closely tracked the case from the moment the priests were kidnapped. Their coordinated efforts, he added, led to a breakthrough, culminating in the successful rescue mission.
According to Bishop Mamza, security forces stormed the house where the priests were being held, securing their release.
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The suspect, Damian, attempted to escape after coming to collect the ransom, but was involved in a motorcycle accident. He fled on foot before eventually surrendering, though he was later taken into police custody.
“Following their rescue, the two priests underwent medical examinations, and were confirmed to be in stable condition,” he said.
Bishop Mamza reassured the public that all evidence obtained from the suspect was now in the custody of security agencies.
Rev. Father Mathew Dusami of Yola Catholic Diocese, and Rev. Father Abraham Samman of Jalingo Diocese were abducted on February 22, 2025, from the residence of Father Dusami in Gwaida Malam, a suburb of Numan Town.
Bishop Mamza reaffirmed the church’s commitment to cooperating with security agencies to safeguard members of the clergy, and worshippers, stressing the importance of accurate information in sensitive cases like this.
