Kidnapped Nigerian Catholic priest found dead, another escapes

LAGOS (Reuters) – A Nigerian Catholic priest kidnapped final week was discovered murdered on Tuesday whereas his colleague managed to escaped from his captors within the northern state of Kaduna, the native diocese stated.

Fathers John Mark Cheitnum and Donatus Cleophas have been seized within the city of Lere when attending a parish operate at Christ the King Catholic Church, Yadin Garu final Friday.

On Tuesday, the physique of Cheitnum was discovered, the Kafanchan diocese stated in an announcement, including that he was “brutally killed on the identical day of his abduction.” His burial is on Thursday.

Nobody has claimed duty for the kidnapping.

A few dozen clergymen have been kidnapped this 12 months throughout Nigeria by gunmen who demand ransom funds. Nigerian safety forces, who’re stretched combating an Islamist insurgency within the northeast, typically fail to cease the assaults.

(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Modifying by Alistair Bell)