Again, Gunmen Abduct Two Catholic Priests, Killed One – Fr. Omotosho Says
The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has announced that gunmen have attacked and abducted two of its Priests namely, Reverend Father Joe Keke and Reverend Father Alphonsus Bello at Saint Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church Malunfashi, Katsina State.
The Diocese in a statement on Friday morning by its Director of Communications, Reverend Father Chris Omotosho said that one of the priests, Fr Alphonsus was killed and his lifeless body found in the farmland behind the Catechetical Traning School, Malunfashi, Katsina State.
Omotosho also lamented with dismay that the whereabouts of the second priest, Fr. Joe Keke is still unknown adding that no contact has been made thus far.
The statement further states; “It would be recalled that Fr Joe Keke, the former parish priest, now in residence is in his late 70s while Fr Alphonsus Bello (parish priest) who is a Priest of Kaduna Archdiocese on Secondment in Sokoto Diocese is in his 30s.
“The lifeless body of Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Bello was found this morning, Friday May 21, 2021, on the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malumfashii in Katsina State, which is part of Sokoto diocese under Bishop Matthew Kukah.
“This following an earlier report at about 1.35am by the Dean of Malumfashi Deanery, Fr. Stephen Ojapah (MSP) that the parish house of St. Vincent Ferrer Church has been attacked by bandits numbering about 15, and Frs. Joe Keke and Alphonsus Bello were kidnapped,” it noted.
Fr. Omotosho in a note to the national communications office of the Catholic Secretariat in Abuja further confirmed the incident, saying that the attack was carried out at about 11.30pm and that Fr. Alphonsus Bello until his death, was the parish priest of St. Vincent, while Fr Joe Keke, 75 years, was a priest in residence.
