ionigeria.com Nigerian Newspaper
A Catholic priest identified as Rev Fr Alphonsus Bello has been killed in an attack on St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, Malunfashi, Katsina State.
A parishioner, who simply identified himself as Dominic, told Daily Trust that the armed men struck around 11 pm on Thursday.
He said immediately they entered the church, they shot their way to where their targets were.
The late priest was said to have resisted abduction but the armed men overpowered him.
Bello was said to have been taken away alongside an elderly priest identified as Rev Father Joe Keke but his corpse was seen on Friday morning.
Confirming the incident, Isah Gambo, Police Public Relations Officer in Katsina, said two persons have been arrested.
Gambo said the police are on the trail of the attackers.
The National Social Communications Director, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, said the gunmen, the bandits dumped the lifeless body of Fr Alphonsus Bello in the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malumfashi, while the whereabouts of Keke have remained unknown.
The training school is part of Sokoto diocese under Bishop Matthew Kukah.
“Last night, one of the parishes of the Sokoto Diocese, St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church Malumfashi, 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.
“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,” Umoh said.
