Nearly 150 Catholic priests kidnapped across Nigeria in past decade, at least 11 killed

ACI Africa, Mar 13, 2025 / 12:50 pm (CNA).

Nearly 150 Catholic priests have been kidnapped in Nigeria over the past 10 years, a new report has indicated, unearthing the growing persecution of Christians in the West African country.

The report published March 12 by the information service Agenzia Fides shows that of the 145 Catholic priests kidnapped in Nigeria between 2015 and 2025, 11 have been killed and the whereabouts of four others remain unknown.

In the report, the highest numbers of abductions were in the provinces of Owerri and Onitsha in the southern part of the country and Kaduna in the northwest.

With 47 cases of kidnapping, Owerri was the most affected in Nigeria in the mentioned period, which, according to Agenzia Fides, indicates “a high-risk region for clergy.”

“Despite the high number, all but two priests were released safely, suggesting effective rescue efforts or ransom payments,” Agenzia Fides reported.

Onitsha province comes second with 30 cases of priest kidnappings. One of the kidnapped priests was killed, according to the report. This, Agenzia Fides said, “suggests a pattern of abductions primarily for ransom rather than targeted killings.”

In Kaduna, the report indicates that a total of 24 priests were kidnapped and that seven of them were killed.

Kaduna Province had the highest number of deaths of priests in the whole of Nigeria, which, according to Agenzia Fides, “could be due to terrorist activity, insurgent influence, or heightened religious tensions in northern Nigeria.”

“Kaduna represents the most dangerous province, where kidnappings frequently end in fatalities,” Agenzia Fides said, adding that the trend “suggests that kidnappers in this region are more aggressive, politically motivated, or less interested in ransom negotiations.”

Other provinces with the highest death tolls in the reported period of time include Abuja, where two priests were killed; Benin, where one priest was killed; and Onitsha, where one priest was killed.

On Abuja, Agenzia Fides said: “The Federal Capital region is also affected, showing that even security-presumed areas are not immune.”

The report also lists Nigerian provinces where kidnapped priests are still missing. These include Kaduna, Benin, and Owerri.

The less-affected provinces in terms of kidnappings and murder of priests, which have been described as “low-risk,” include Ibadan with two cases of kidnapping, all of them released; Calabar with all the four kidnapped priests released; and Lagos, which didn’t have any cases of kidnapping.

Agenzia Fides noted that Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, appears to be the safest province for Catholic clergy.

“This could be due to better policing, urban security measures, or lower religious militancy in the region,” Agenzia Fides said.

Insecurity is rife in Nigeria, where kidnappings, murder, and other forms of persecution against Christians remain rampant in many parts of the West African country, especially in the north.

According to Catholic pontifical and charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need International, a total of 13 Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria in 2024 alone.

Members of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) have condemned the incessant kidnapping and assassination of Catholic priests and religious in the West African region, describing the trend as an “abnormality.”

In a statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, on March 11, RECOWA members described the violence meted against Catholic clergy in the entire West African region as “an evil that is gradually gaining ground,” noting that the trend is unacceptable.

In Nigeria in particular, RECOWA members noted that not a month passes by without news of the kidnapping of a priest or religious and a call for prayer made by the local ordinaries and superiors for their release. 

They appealed to Catholic priests ministering in hostile regions to remain committed to serving the poor and the marginalized without giving way to fear.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262713/nearly-150-catholic-priests-kidnapped-across-nigeria-in-past-decade-at-least-11-killed