Fr Marcellus Nwaohuocha OMI released by captors

Priest was kidnapped and held at gunpoint, security guard shot and killed

Fr. Marcellus Nwaohuocha freed from captivity in the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos in Nigeria. Credit: OMI

Fr. Marcellus Nwaohuocha, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), was kidnapped on June 17 when gunmen attacked St. Paul Bomo Catholic Parish of Jos Archdiocese where he serves as Parish Priest.

In a Sunday, June 18 statement, OMI Superior in Nigeria, Fr. Peter Klaver, says that Fr. Marcellus was taken away after the gunmen “forcefully gained entry into the parish house.”

“The kidnappers shot his security guard who died on the way to hospital,” Fr. Klaver says, and adds in reference to the abducted Catholic Priest, “Nobody knows where they have taken him.”

The abduction of Fr. Marcellus is the latest in a series of kidnappings and murders in Africa’s most populous nation involving members of the Clergy, Seminarians, and other Christians.

–https://www.aciafrica.org/

Archdiocese website for Jos, states that Fr Marcellus was subsequently released on night of 19 / 20 of June. He is in hospital being treated for deep head wounds.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa Tuesday, June 20, the Superior of OMI in Nigeria announces the release from Fr. Marcellus from captivity after having been tortured, and that he “has deep wounds on his head.”

n his June 20 statement, Fr. Klaver appeals for prayers for the soul of the late security guard and for complete healing of his hospitalized confrere, saying, “Let us pray for the full recovery of his health and for the repose of the soul of the deceased, who leaves a family (wife and children).”

On June 11,  Fr. Jeremiah Yakubu, a Priest of Kafanchan Diocese, was kidnapped and later released.

Earlier, on June 7, Fr. Charles Onomhoale Igechi, a member of the Clergy of Benin City Catholic Archdiocese who was set to mark his first Priestly anniversary on August 13 was shot dead while returning from pastoral duties.

On June 2, Fr. Stanislaus Mbamara, a Catholic Priest ministering in Nigeria’s Nnewi Diocese was kidnapped and later set free.