Photo: Aid to the Church in Need
In what appears to have been a failed kidnapping attempt, a Catholic seminary student died of smoke inhalation on September 7th after the parish rectory was set on fire. The priest and his ministry assistant were able to escape the fire, but 25-year-old Na'aman Danlami was unable to get out of the building in time.
According to news reports, Fulani bandits attempted to enter the rectory of the St. Raphael parish in Fadan Kamantan, a town located in southern Kaduna State. It is believed that they intended to kidnap the parish priest, Emmanuel Okolo. Unable to gain access into the building, the assailants set the residence on fire. The assault lasted for more than an hour, even though a military checkpoint is situated only a kilometre away. The attackers eventually fled the area.
Addressing concerns over this recent incident, the chair for the Kaduna Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, stated: "Security is everyone's business; it is disappointing that this kind of unholy activity could be recorded at the heart of [the] Fadan Kamantan community, and [that] the criminals operate unchallenged. It is a slap to the security forces within that jurisdiction. It is a slap to the religious leaders, [as well as to the] traditional and community leaders." For more information on the violence being encountered by Nigerian Christians, go to our country report.
Pray for all those who are now mourning the loss of this young Christian man. May each one of these grieving believers be filled with God's love, comfort and perfect peace through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of ongoing attacks perpetrated by the members of various militant groups, please continue to prayerfully uphold our persecuted Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ, asking the Lord to provide greatly needed protection to those in Kaduna and other areas of this troubled African nation.
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