Popular Catholic Priest has been shot dead by bandits in Katsina State.
News Online reports Popular Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Alphonsus Bello of Saint Vincent Catholic Church has been shot dead by bandits in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
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Also, the abduction of a 70-year-old retired Reverend Father Joseh Keke on Thursday night, May 20, by suspected bandits have caused palpable fear in the state.
According to a report by ThisDay Newspaper, the suspected bandits stormed the residence of the popular Catholic priest and the other victim located within the parish at about 11pm and started shooting sporadically.
The Chairman of the Katsina Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), confirmed the incident to THISDAY Friday, described the killing and abduction of the clergymen as disheartening, unfortunate and painful.
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Statement on the murder of the Popular Catholic Priest
The Katsina CAN Chairman said about the murder of the popular Catholic priest and the other victim: “It happened around 11pm yesterday (Thursday). They killed Reverend Father Alphonsus Bello and kidnapped Father Joseph Keke. Father Keke is a retired Priest; he is above 70. He retired January this year and Father Bello came from Kaduna to take over the parish.
“It is very unfortunate and painful. We don’t have anything to do more than prayers because what is happening in our nation is beyond control, as if we don’t have government in Nigeria”.
The Katsina CAN Chairman added, “Nigeria is a failed state. Our hearts are bleeding over the situation in the country. President Buhari has failed the entire nation. We will keep praying and trusting God that the situation will be over one day”.
He reiterated that it was unfair that the locals had been left to their fate, adding that kidnappings and other related criminal activities had become the order of the day in the country.
According to Onyekachukwu, “The attack is unfortunate and we should not base it as religious but we should all come together to put an end to banditry and other security challenges facing us in this country”.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, and a Superintendent of Police, Gambo Isah, while confirming the incident to newsmen, said two persons had been arrested in connection with the incident.
The Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer explained that security personnel had been deployed to the area and were combing the foreest with the view to arresting the perpetrators of the act and rescuing the captive.
