The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has condemned the abduction and gruesome murder of Sylvester Okechukwu, a Catholic priest in Kafanchan Diocese.
He was the pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church, Tachira, in Kaura LGA of Kaduna state.
Okechukwu was reported to have been abducted by bandits at his residence on Tuesday night and killed on Wednesday morning.
In a statement on Friday, Chairman of SKCLA, Apostle Emmanuel Kure, expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.
“The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association is deeply saddened and outraged by the abduction and gruesome murder of Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan,” the statement reads.
This inhumane act is not only a painful loss to the Church but also a disturbing indication of the worsening insecurity in our land.
“On behalf of SKCLA, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, especially to the Lord Bishop, Most Rev. Julius Yakubu Kundi, the clergy, and the entire Catholic faithful.
“We stand with you in this moment of grief and pray that God grants you the strength and comfort to bear this tragic loss”.
Kure said the unfortunate incident is part of a troubling pattern of attacks on clergymen in Southern Kaduna.
“We painfully recall the abduction and brutal killing of Rev. Fr. John Mark Cheitnum in 2022, the assassination of Pastor Musa Mairiga of ECWA Church, and the numerous cases of kidnappings and killings of Christian leaders across our communities.
“These repeated assaults on men of God raise serious concerns: Is this a deliberate and systematic attack on Christians, particularly priests and pastors?” the statement asked.
Kure called on both the federal and state security apparatus to do something drastic to check the ugly situation before the it begins to carry a religious undertone that might undermine the hard earned peace in the state.
“They may be criminal but why is the church clerics the only target?
“We strongly challenge the security agencies to rise to the occasion and put an end to this wave of violence.
“It is unacceptable that those who dedicate their lives to preaching peace and serving humanity continue to be hunted down without consequences for the perpetrators.
“The government and security forces must take immediate and decisive action to prevent further bloodshed and restore confidence in the safety of our communities,” the group said.
The statement also called on all Christians and residents of Southern Kaduna to be vigilant, security-conscious and report any suspicious movements or threats to law enforcement agencies without delay.
“Our collective safety depends on our willingness to cooperate and take proactive measures against these evil forces”, the statement added.
