Musa Na Allah Sokoto
Gunmen, suspected to be bandits in the early hours of Thursday night attacked St Vincent Ferrer Parish of the Catholic Church in Malumfashi killing one Reverend Father and kidnapping one other.
The gunmen who stormed the Parish armed to the teeth kidnapped over 70 years old Rev Father Joe Keke who is the former Priest of the Parish and now in residence alongside Father Alphonsus Bello, the Parish priest.
Father Alphonsus who was until the ugly incident, in his early 30s was however found dead on Friday morning in a farmland behind the Cathedral Training School, Malumfashi.
Confirming the incident, the Communications Director of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Father Chris Omotosho said the whereabout of Father Jeo Keke is still unknown.
According to Father Omotosho, the abductors had not called either to enable them know the next step.
Malumfashi in Katisna State, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States are all under the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto whose spiritual leader is Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
The confirmation message sent by Father Omotosho read in part, “Last night (20/05/2021) one of our parishes – St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church Malunfashi, Katsina state – was attacked by unknown gunmen. 2 priests were kidnapped. Frs Joe Keke and Alphonsus Bello.
“Fr Joe Keke the former Parish Priest, now in residence is in his late 70s. Fr Alphonsus Bello (parish priest) is in his 30s. This morning the body of Fr Alphonsus was found (lifeless) in the farmland behind the Catechetical Training School, Malunfashi. The whereabouts of Fr. Joe Keke is still unknown. No contact has been made thus far.”
