The Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria (OSAN) has expressed deep concern over the rising cases of abduction of Catholic priests across the country, describing the clergy as “soft targets” for kidnappers.

President of the Association and Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Chinedu Francis Akubueze, raised the alarm at the opening of the 4th Annual Convention of OSAN, with the theme: “Insecurity: Navigating the complexities of nation building,” held in Abuja, on Friday.

Akubueze lamented that many priests have fallen victim to kidnappers in recent times, with the Catholic Church often forced to pay huge ransom sums to secure their release.

“The clergy among us, who are also old seminarians, are increasingly becoming an endangered species. Quite a number of them have been kidnapped, and the Church has paid heavy ransoms. They have become attractive targets for kidnappers who wrongly assume that the Church is wealthy,” he said.

He commended the Nigerian Army for its efforts in apprehending the killers of Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu and rescuing Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu, but stressed that “more needs to be done” to address the root causes of insecurity and prevent future tragedies.

The OSAN President called on the government to prioritise the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of faith or profession, and urged the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to take a stronger stand against attacks on clergy and worship centres.

“We gather today with heavy hearts to deliberate on the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, particularly the incessant kidnappings of Catholic priests,” Akubueze said. “The Church appears helpless in this excruciating situation, while government efforts have yet to yield the desired results.”

He noted that the convention would feature presentations by eminent scholars and security experts to brainstorm and propose proactive solutions to the crisis.

Akubueze reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to promoting unity, moral discipline, and social responsibility, values instilled during seminary training, and urged members to use their diverse platforms to advocate peace, security, and good governance.

“Let us join forces to build a society where everyone can live without fear,” he said. “We pray for the safety of all kidnapped priests and citizens, and we demand decisive action from our leaders.”

A few months ago, the Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Stephen Dami Mamza, debunked claims that Taledo Damian, the recently arrested suspect in the abduction of two Catholic priests, was a mass server or cleric within the diocese.

Addressing a press conference in Yola, Bishop Mamza clarified that while the suspect was a church member, he never served in any official capacity. He cautioned against misinformation that could tarnish the reputation of dedicated clergy and mass servers.

“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,” the bishop stated.