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Gunmen abduct Catholic priest in Kaduna, CAN condemns incident

By Saxone Akhaine and Abdulganiyu Alabi, Kaduna
27 March 2019   |   3:11 am
The Kaduna State Police Command yesterday confirmed the abduction of a Catholic priest, Reverend Father John Bako Shekwolo by gunmen at his residence in Ankuwa village, Kachia Local Government Area of the state. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Yakubu Sabo, disclosed in a statement that he received information from the police unit in Kachia…

National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Samson Ayokunle

The Kaduna State Police Command yesterday confirmed the abduction of a Catholic priest, Reverend Father John Bako Shekwolo by gunmen at his residence in Ankuwa village, Kachia Local Government Area of the state.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Yakubu Sabo, disclosed in a statement that he received information from the police unit in Kachia that Bako was kidnapped at 8pm on Monday and taken to an unknown destination.

He, however, assured that a team of policemen, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), PMF personnel and operatives of the command’s anti-kidnapping unit have been mobilised to the village to rescue Bako and apprehend the criminals.

He added that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Ahmad Abdurrahman, appealed to members of the public to assist the police with relevant information that could help curb banditry in the state.

“He assured the public that the command is doing everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime. Update on the ongoing operation will follow in due course.

Besides, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the abduction of Bako, who is Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Ankuwa.

The religious body also lamented that Kaduna has become the centre of kidnapping, while the security challenge has become a big business in Kaduna State.

In a statement issued in Kaduna yesterday by its state chapter chairman, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, CAN also said the government has failed in tackling security threats in the state.

“CAN condemns the abduction of Bako in its entirety. While we note that kidnapping in Kaduna State has become a big business, we appeal to the kidnappers to kindly release Bako unhurt.

“It is sad that Kaduna State has become the centre of kidnapping with government doing almost nothing to stop it. This shows there is governance failure, as far as security of lives and property is concerned.

“Unless we stop paying lip service to issues of security, kidnapping and other insecurity problems will not stop.

“Government and security agencies must wake up to their responsibilities of protecting lives and property, which is the essence of government,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Southern Kaduna indigenes under the aegis of Sanga Community Development Association (SCDA) and Gwantu Peoples Progressives Union (GPPU) have charged government to ensure that perpetrators of the recent attack on Nandu Community in Sanga Local Government Area are arrested and prosecuted.

The groups condemned the attack and killings in Sanga where innocent persons were killed, while houses and farm produce worth millions of naira were destroyed.

In a statement in Kaduna, they also congratulated President Buhari and Governor Nasir el-Rufai on their victory at the polls.

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