Catholic Priest shot dead, another abducted as bandits raid church

The Nation has reported that bandits have murdered Catholic priest, Rev Father Alphonsus Bello at the Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church Malunfashi, Katsina State.

After killing Bello, they abducted another priest, Rev. Fr. Joe Keke. The Nation further added that the gunmen stormed the Catholic parish and started shooting into the air, injuring some people in the process.

Confirming the incident, the National Social Communications Director, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Umoh, said the suspected bandits dumped the lifeless body of Father Alphonsus Bello in the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malunfashi while the whereabouts of Fr. Joe Keke were still unknown.

The Nation disclosed, “Last night, one of the parishes of the Sokoto Diocese – St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church Malunfashi, in Katsina state – was attacked by unknown gunmen.

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 the Sokoto diocese under Bishop Matthew Kukah. However, the whereabouts of Fr. Joe Keke are still unknown. No contact has been made thus far.”

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