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The Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria (OSAN) has expressed deep concern over the rising cases of abduction of Catholic priests across the country, describing the clergy as “soft targets” for kidnappers.
President of the Association, Chinedu
Francis Akubueze who raised the alarm at the opening of the 4th Annual Convention of OSAN, lamented that many priests have fallen victim to kidnappers in recent times, with the Catholic Church often forced to pay huge ransom sums to secure their release.
“The clergy among us, who are also old seminarians, are increasingly becoming an endangered species. Quite a number of them have been kidnapped, and the Church has paid heavy ransoms. They have become attractive targets for kidnappers who wrongly assume that the Church is wealthy,” he said.
He commended the Nigerian Army for its efforts in apprehending the killers of Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu and rescuing Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu, but stressed that “more needs to be done” to address the root causes of insecurity and prevent future tragedies.
The OSAN President called on the government to prioritise the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of faith or profession, and urged the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to take a stronger stand against attacks on clergy and worship centres.
“We gather today with heavy hearts to deliberate on the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, particularly the incessant kidnappings of Catholic priests,” Akubueze said. “The Church appears helpless in this excruciating situation, while government efforts have yet to yield the desired results.”
A member of the panel of discussion and Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nile University of Nigeria, Prof. May Ifeoma Nwoye, said the situation in the country has gotten to the level where Nigerian youths are ridiculed in some African countries that were helped to achieve independence.
She said the leaders should look inward about the economic situation and that concessional loans should be targeted at alleviating poverty.
“The hunger insecurity is very devastating, and people have died for lack of economic means, ” she said.
