Nigerian church mourns death of kidnapped Catholic priest

ABUJA, Nigeria—Police officials on Wednesday found the body of a Catholic priest kidnapped nearly two months ago in a bush near a local government office in Otukpa, Benue state. Rev. John Adeyi’s death shocked his religious and lay communities and left other religious leaders across the country worried over similar safety threats.

On April 24, Adeyi was traveling home from pastoral duties in Okpokwu when abductors kidnapped him at gunpoint. The abductors contacted church officials and demanded a ransom of more than $88,000. A family member paid some $7,000, but the abductors refused to release him.

“Initially, they were in contact, but all of a sudden they stopped,” said Rev. Emmanuel Ejeh from Otukpo diocese, who served as a deacon with Adeyi.

Adeyi, 50, worked as the vicar-general of the Otukpo diocese, and also served at St. Bernard’s Catholic Parish in Okpokwu. The Otukpo diocese said police are currently investigating the case and looking into possible motives.

Cletus Ameh worked as Adeyi’s secretary in 2005. The priest served not only as a boss but also a mentor to Ameh. Only two years ago, he officiated Ameh’s wedding.

“He was like a father to me,” Ameh said. “His death was really a shock, especially the manner in which he was killed.”

Adeyi touched his community with his love of music and compassion for the elderly and disabled in his society, Ameh said. At Holy Name Parish in Ogboloko, Adeyi noticed many disabled people moved around on their hands and feet and decided to do something.

“He got so many tricycles distributed to them,” Ameh said.

In April, the community from the Otukpo and Makurdi dioceses organized a joint prayer session for the missing priest. Other communities in Abuja, the country’s capital, also offered prayers for him.

“I had hoped he would come back,” said Rev. Boniface Ngene of the Abuja Archdiocese. “The fact that a brother priest was killed will always be a thing of concern.”

Ngene first met Adeyi at a 1996 conference. He remembered him as an intelligent and holy man. Although shocking, Adeyi’s kidnapping isn’t an isolated case. This morning, Ngene received word of another priest in Kano state kidnapped from the parish house. A few months ago, Fulani herdsmen kidnapped a reverend sister from Ngene’s parish but eventually released her unharmed. Safety issues remain a concern, especially as some priests must travel between their assigned parishes. But their call to serve remains a top priority, Ngene said.

“What keeps us going is the vision we had when we made this choice of vocation, knowing our lives are also a call to sacrifice, and that each day in various ways, we are called to witness,” he said. “The love of Christ urges us on.”