Kaduna police confirms kidnap of Catholic priest

Gunmen on Monday kidnapped a Catholic priest, Rev. Father John Bako Shekwolo at Ankuwa village in the Kachia area, in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The state police command confirmed the incident, noting that operatives were already combing the village in a bid to rescue the priest and arrest his abductors.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna said the abducted cleric is the Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Ankuwa in Kachia LGA of the state.

According to the statement from the Kaduna State Police Command, the cleric was kidnapped by unknown gunmen around 8:00 p.m.

In the statement signed by the police spokesman, DSP Yakubu Sabo, the priest was taken to an unknown destination.

“Information reaching the command from the Divisional Police Office in Kachia indicated that on Monday at about 0800hrs, armed men entered the residence of the cleric and took him away to unknown destination.

“A team of policemen led by the Kachia Divisional Police Officer, Police Mobile Force personnel and operatives from the command Anti-Kidnapping Unit were promptly mobilized to the village with a view to combing the general area for the possible rescue of the victim and arrest of the criminals.

“The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ahmad Abdulrahman appeals to the general public to assist the police with relevant information that could help in curbing the menace of banditry in the state.”