Over 200 Catholic priests and seminarians have been kidnapped across 26 dioceses and archdioceses in Nigeria in the last 10 years, with at least 20 of them being killed by their abductors.

The chilling figures are contained in a document obtained by News Express from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, entitled “STATISTICS OF KIDNAPPED CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN NIGERIA IN THE LAST TEN YEARS 2015 – 2025”. The document broke down the list of victims, indicating their dioceses, as well as those kidnapped and released, those kidnapped but escaped, those kidnapped and killed, and those still with their kidnappers.

The North-West and North Central regions – Kaduna, Minna, Kafanchan, and Sokoto – account for the most number of victims, with over 50 cases of priestly abductions recorded. Kaduna Archdiocese alone witnessed the brutal killing of four priests.

Next is the South-East, with dioceses like Okigwe and Ekwulobia recording a large number of kidnappings, with some priests abducted multiple times – one as many as three times. The South-South comes third, with Edo, Delta, and Rivers states reporting frequent cases.

In terms of dioceses, Okigwe leads with 24 reportedly kidnapped, out of which 23 names were listed, followed by Port Harcourt Diocese with 14 kidnapped, and Nsukka Diocese with 13 abducted.

Below are the details as the contained in “STATISTICS OF KIDNAPPED CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN NIGERIA IN THE LAST TEN YEARS 2015 – 2025”:

ZARIA DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Rev. Fr. Felix Fidson Zakari

WUKARI DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr Moses Angyian

2. Fr Thaddeus Tarhembe

SOKOTO DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr Micah Yakubu Suleiman

2. Fr. Oliver Opara

3. Fr. Ojapah Stephen MSP

Kidnapped and Killed

4. Fr Alphonsus Bello (Fidei Donum Priest from Archdiocese of Kaduna) was killed by abductors

5. Bro. Micheal Mnadi (Seminarian) was killed by abductors

KAFANCHAN DIOCESE

Kidnapped and returned safe

1. Fr. Andrew Anana

2. Fr. Cleopas Donatus

3. Fr. Gabriel Uke

4. Fr. John Magnus

5. Fr. Joseph Shekari

6. Fr. Emmanuel Silas

7. Fr. Bulus Benson

Kidnapped and killed

8. Fr. John Mark Chetnum

9. Fr. Okechukwu Sylvester

WARRI DIOCESE

Kidnapped and returned safe

1. Fr. Emmanuel Obadjere

2. Fr. Joseph Ojakorotu

3. Fr. Christopher Ogaga

4. Fr. Harrison Egwunu

5. Fr. Peter Dedekuma

6. Fr. Raphael Ogigbah

Kidnapped and later died

7. Fr. Louis Odudu

IDAH DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released safe

1. Rev. Innocent Enemuo

2. Rev. Fr. Benjamin Adama

3. Very Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Musa

4. Rev. Fr. Patrick ?monu

YOLA DIOCESE

Kidnapped and Released safe

1. Fr. Oliver Buba

2. Fr. Matthew David Dutseumi

LAFIA DIOCESE

Kidnapped and returned safe

1. Fr. Augustine Ashigabu

ARCHDIOCESE OF KADUNA

Kidnapped and safely released

1. Fr. Paul Jibrin

2. Fr. Francis BakoAwesu

3. Fr. Godwin Ali

4. Fr. Anthony Dawah

5. Fr. Abraham Kunat

Kidnapped and killed

6. Fr. Joseph Aketeh Bako

7. Fr. Alphonsus Y. Bello

8. Fr. John Bako Shekwolo

9. Fr. Vitus Borogo

MINNA DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Very Rev Fr Leo Raphael

Kidnapped and Killed

2. Very Rev Fr John Yaji Gbakaan

3. Very Rev Fr. Isaac Achi

ISSELE-UKU DIOCESE

Kidnapped and returned

1. Fr Uche Nwaonwochei

2. Fr Franklin Odiaka

3. Fr Andrew Anah (twice)

4. Fr Jude Onyebadi (Three times)

5. Fr Samuel Agwameseh

OTUPKO DIOCESE

Kidnapped but Released

1. Very Rev Fr Joseph Ameh Onuh

2. Rev Fr David Echoda

3. Rev Fr Anthony Adikwu

4. Rev Fr Mark Ojotu

5. Rev Fr Amodu Cssp

Kidnapped and Died

6. Very Rev Fr John Alex Adeyi

ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN CITY

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr Stephen Dumbiri

2. Fr Idahosa Amadasun

3. Fr Edwin Omorogbe

4. Fr Joseph Ediae

SHENDAM DIOCESE

Kidnapped and returned Safe

1. Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak

PANKSHIN DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr. Anthony Agu

2. Fr. Kenneth Kanwa, Cmf

3. Fr. Jude Nwachukwu, Cmf

4. Fr. Elias Gogwang

PORT HARCOURT DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Msgr. Pius Kii

2. Msgr. Emmanuel Maru

3. Fr. Donatus Ukulor

4. Fr. Bernardine Anaele

5. Fr. Fabian Anaele

6. Fr. Magnus Anyanugo

7. Fr. Paul Okeregwu

8. Fr. Loveday Bornwin

9. Fr. Ambrose Bani

10. Fr. Samuel Nwika

11. Fr. Uchenna Okere

12. Fr. Paul Nwankwoala

13. Fr. Michael Mbari

14. Fr. Maurice Livinus

CALABAR ARCHDIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr. Cyril Essien

ONDO DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr Joseph Ajayi

OKIGWE DIOCESE

Kidnapped and returned safe

2. Fr EvaristusEkweke (2x)

3. Fr. Emmanuel Esiagu

4. Fr. CaniceAmajuoyi

5. Fr. Michael Asomugha

6. Fr. Kingsley Eboh

7. Fr. John Okafor

8. Fr. Francis Eze

9. Fr. Emmanuel Osuji

10. Fr. Fidelis Ekemgba

11. Fr. Jude Kingsley Maduka

12. Fr. Kenneth Osuchukwu

13. Fr. Anthony Jiwuba

14. Fr Emmanuel Azubuike (2x)

15. Fr. Kingsley Eze

16. Fr. Charles Nwachukwu

17. Fr Jerome Okonkwo

18. Fr. Culbert Okeke

19. Fr. Vitus Echedo

20. Fr. Franklin Okoro

21. Fr. John Paul Ogueri

22. Fr. Samuel Okereke

23. Fr. Donatus Eze

24. Fr. Augustine Umeibe

Attacked but Escaped

25. Fr Michael Okafor

26. Fr. Anthony Okafor O.

27. Fr Christian Obioha

28. Fr. Christian Mbara

29. Fr. Marcel Obasi

30. Fr. Anthony Onyeihe

31. Fr. Chukwuma C. Chukwuma

32. Fr Simon Osuchukwu

33. Fr Emmanuel Chinaka

34. Fr. Ernest Odoh

35. Fr. Bonaventure Ukeh

36. Fr. Paschal Ukaegbu

37. Fr Princewill Iwuanyanwu

38. Fr. Finbar Chukwu

39. Fr. Anthony Eziefule

40. Fr. Ambrose Onuoha

41. Fr. Ambrose Onuoha

42. Fr. Paulinus Okwuolise

43. Fr. Christopher Okoli

44. Fr. Cyprian Ukanwa

45. Fr. Chukwuma C. Chukwuma

46. Fr. JohnPaul J. Ogueri

47. Fr. Jude Mbano

KONTAGORA DIOCESE

Kidnapped but released

1. Fr. Linus Arege

JALINGO DIOCESE

Kidnapped and yet to be released

1. Fr. Abraham Saumam

MAIDUGURI DIOCESE

Abducted but escaped

1. Fr. Elijah Juma

KATSINA DIOCESE

Kidnapped but Released

1. Msgr Joseph Keke

UYO DIOCESE

Kidnapped but released

1. Fr. Ernest Udoh

2. Fr. Charles Ekeng

EKWULOBIA DIOCESE

Kidnapped but released

1. Fr. Egbosionu Eugene

2. Fr. Christian Ike

3. Fr. Martin Ezieruaku

4. Fr. Emmanuel Nwafor

5. Fr. Bernard Eguejiofor

6. Fr. Anthony Okoro

7. Fr. Sylvester Igwe

AUCHI DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr. Adorolo Lawrence

2. Fr. Alfred Ebalu

3. Fr. Agabi Isaac

4. Fr. John Bosco Ugwu

5. Fr. Thomas Oyode

Kidnapped yet to be released

6. Fr. Philip Ekweli

Kidnapped and killed

7. Fr. Christopher Odia

AWKA DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr. Paul Onyebuchi

2. Fr. Gerald Ejimbonwu

3. Fr. Peter Ibeazor

4. Fr. Efobi Felix

5. Fr. Joseph Nweke

6. Fr. Cornelius Okoye

7. Fr. Paul Chimezie

EKITI DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr Emmanuel Akingbade

NSUKKA DIOCESE

Kidnapped and released

1. Fr Chijioke Amoke

2. Fr Celestine Eze

3. Fr Lazarus Ekwueme

4. Fr Cyprian Ugwuanyi

5. Fr Victor Ishiwu

6. Fr Titus Ogbu

7. Fr Cyril Okpe

8. Fr Innocent Mba

9. Fr Malachy Asadu

10. Fr Sunday Onah

11. Fr Emmanuel Ugwu

12. Fr Emmanuel Nnadi - (escaped from abductors)

13. Bro. Eric Uroko - (Snr Seminarian)

UROMI DIOCESE Kidnapped but released

1. Fr. Augustine Akogba

2. Fr. Precious Martin Umanholen

3. Fr. Peter Udo (late)

4. Fr. Nicholas Oboh

5. Fr. Philemon Oboh