In north central Nigeria, a Missionary of Africa – Fr. Paul Salongo – was kidnapped alongside a Seminarian, Melchior, from the parish of St Luke Gyedna, in Niger State’s Paikoro government area.
On August 3, the bandits entered, firing into the air, from the parish residence, and removed the White Father and the Seminarian.
The bishop of Minna, Mons. Martins Igwe Uzoukwu, sent a memo to all the parishes in Niger State, inviting the faithful to pray for the abducted.
“On behalf of my Auxiliary Mons. Sylvester Luka Gopep, the priests and the members of religious orders in the Catholic Diocese of Minna. I ask you to pray for Fr. Paul Sanogo (Missionary of Africa) and the Seminarian, Melchior, who were taken by bandits in the early hours of August 3, 2023, at the priest’s residence in Gyedna, in Niger State”, the memo read.
However, in confirming the double kidnapping, a police spokesperson also claimed that other seminarians in the area have been advised to temporarily relocate while the search for the two abducted persons is ongoing.