Gunmen on Thursday night attacked the Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church Malunfashi, Katsina State, killing the parish priest Rev. Fr Alphonsus Bello.
The unidentified men also took captive from the church Rev. Fr. Joe Keke.
According to the national social communications director, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Umoh, the gunmen dumped the corpse of Fr Bello in the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malunfashi.
Director of communications for Sokoto catholic diocese Rev. Fr. Chris Omotosho, in a note to the national communications office of Catholic Secretariat in Abuja, said Fr Keke, 75, was a priest in residence.
“Last night, one of the parishes of the Sokoto Diocese – St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church Malunfashi, in Katsina state – was attacked by unknown gunmen,” said Fr Omotosho.
“Two priests were kidnapped, Frs. Joe Keke and Alphonsus Bello. Fr Keke, the former parish priest, is in his late 70s while Fr. Bello, the current parish priest, is in his 30s.
“The lifeless body of Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Bello was found this morning, Friday May 21, 2021, on the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malumfashi in Katsina State, which is part of Sokoto diocese under Bishop Matthew Kukah.
“This morning (Friday) the body of Fr Alphonsus Bello was found lifeless in the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malunfashi. However, the whereabouts of Fr. Joe Keke is still unknown. No contact has been made thus far.”
