Southern Kaduna Christian leaders protest against kidnap, killing of priests

Urge govts to probe, end persecution
Irked by incessant killing of Christian priests in their area, the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has challenged Kaduna State and the Federal Government to investigate and end the ugly situation.

In a statement, yesterday, signed by the Chairman, Emmanuel Kure, SKCLA frowned on the “continued persecution of priests” across the country.

The protest was in reaction to the gruesome murder of Rev. Fr. John Mark Chietnum, one of the two kidnapped Catholic priests in Kafanchan Diocese.

Kure, who lamented the rising cases of kidnap and, in some cases, killing of priests by their abductors, even after receiving ransom, further tasked security operatives to always be proactive, instead of reactive, in their response to criminal activities.

He described the murdered priest as one of the active members of the association who contributed in no small way in giving direction to the Christian communities in the area.

SKCLA, however, condoled with the Catholic community, especially the immediate family of the deceased priest, the bishop and laity of Kafanchan Diocese over the loss of one of their finest priests, and prayed God to expose his killers and rescue all those in the den of kidnappers.