NEWS BRIEFING: Kidnapped Nigerian priest released

A Catholic priest abducted from his parish in Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria on Sunday (9th June) was set free last night (Monday 10th June), according to a statement released by Kafanchan Diocese.

Unknown assailants seized Father Gabriel Ukeh from the rectory at St Thomas’s Parish, Zaman Dabo in the early hours of Sunday.

Father Okafor Gabriel Tochukwu, director of communications at Kafanchan Diocese wrote in a statement seen by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): “With gratitude to God, we announce the safe release of our brother and priest…”

Father Tochukwu added that Father Ukeh “was happily welcomed home to his parish community at about 9:00pm, Monday, 10th June 2024”.

He concluded: “We acknowledge and appreciate the kind and prayerful support of all and sundry who worked round the clock to make this a reality.”

Father Ukeh is the sixth priest to have been kidnapped in Nigeria this year.