- As abducted Catholic Clergy regains freedom
BY EDMOND ODOK – Mourners and sympathisers ran for their dear lives as bandits disrupted the funeral organised in honour of the slain pastor with ECWA Church, Reverend Adamu Buba.
Rev Buba, abducted by bandits who attacked Tudun Ibru in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday night, was found dead by locals on Tuesday near the community.
And confirming reports about the bandits’ disruption of the funeral service, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab told journalists; “It is true that when the church went for his burial, gunmen started shooting and people fled.”
An eyewitness account further said the incident caused a serious commotion in the areas as people scampered to safety with the bandits leaving on their trail injured mourners and lost items by many.
Reports indicate the criminal elements invaded the community on Monday at night where they killed three people and kidnapped others.
A reliable source stated that; “The kidnappers left the community and moved to Doka where they also abducted nine people. The pastor of ECWA Church Tudun Ibru, Rev Adamu Buba was among those kidnapped.
“But this morning, while villagers were on the heels of the kidnappers, they found his body.”
As of the time of this report, the Police Command in Kaduna was yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after bandits struck a Catholic Church in Kauru, Kaduna State, and abducted a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Silas, the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan on Tuesday confirmed his release. The Diocese reports that Father Emmanuel Silas was abducted at the Parish rectory at St. Charles Catholic Church in Zambina, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna state on Monday.
Reacting to the cheering news of the Clergy’s freedom, the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, thanked everyone who offered prayers for his quick release from the bandits’ den
A statement by the Chancellor said; “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 4, 2022”.
