Gunmen kill six soldiers, abduct commander in Taraba

Catholic priest dies in Kaduna kidnappers’ den

Gunmen, yesterday, killed six soldiers and a mobile police officer, just as they reportedly abducted the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 92 Battalion in Takum Local Council of Taraba State.

This came not long after President Muhammadu Buhari charged the military to smoke out the terrorists wherever they were and eliminate them.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Taraba command, Usman Abdullahi, said that killing of the security personnel occurred during a joint operation by the soldiers and the police. He confirmed the commanding officer “missing in the operation” in which the six soldiers and the Mopol were ambushed and killed.

According to him, security agencies are leaving no stone unturned to rescue the missing commander unhurt. Some security personnel in the area told The Guardian that the abduction demoralised them.

Buhari had charged heads of military and other security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities and go after terrorists troubling the country and eliminate them.

ALSO, in Kaduna State, a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Bako, who was abducted recently, has died in the kidnappers’ den. The priest was abducted from his residence at St. John’s Catholic Church, Kudenda, on March 8, 2022.

Announcing the death of the priest in Kaduna, yesterday, the Chancellor, Christian Emmanuel, stated: “It is with heavy hearts, but total submission to the will of God, that we announce the death of Rev. Fr. Joseph Aketeh Bako.

“We have carefully verified that the unfortunate event took place between April 18 and 20, 2022 in the hands of his abductors.”
He noted that the 48-year-old cleric was kidnapped on March 8, 2022, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Kudenda, Kaduna, where he was serving as Parish Priest.

The Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, has condoled with the immediate family of the deceased and St. John’s Catholic community, assuring them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.