NewStats: 3,264,676 , 8,184,387 topics. Date: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 at 11:51 PM 455b21

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, a Catholic priest and pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church, Tachira, in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after abducting him from his residence.

The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the tragic incident in a statement issued by its Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Jacob Shanet, on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

“It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the tragic death of our beloved Priest, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu (Born 11/12/1980 and ordained 11/02/2021), who was the Pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Fr. Sylvester was kidnapped from his residence on the evening of 4th March 2025 at approximately 9:15 PM WAT.”

“After being taken by his abductors, we regret to inform you that Fr. Sylvester was cruelly killed in the early hours of today, the 5th of March 2025, Ash Wednesday. It is yet to be determined why he was killed,” the statement added.

Fr. Okechukwu was known for his unwavering dedication to his parishioners, with the diocese describing him as “a dedicated servant of God, who worked selflessly in the vineyard of the Lord, spreading the message of peace, love, and hope. He was always available and accessible to his parishioners. His untimely death has left an indelible void within our diocesan family, and we share in the pain of his ing with his family, friends, and all those who knew and loved him.”

The Diocese has called for calm in the wake of the tragic killing, urging of the Takad community and the public to avoid any acts of retaliation.

“We wish to call on our youth and of the Takad community to remain calm and steadfast in prayer. No one should take the law into their hands.”

It further called on the Catholic faithful to pray for the repose of his soul, stating, “Let us come together as one family in prayer for the repose of his soul. We invite all priests, religious and the faithful, to offer Holy Masses, Rosaries, and Prayers for the eternal repose of Fr. Sylvester, who gave his life in service to God and humanity.”

The Diocese said funeral arrangements for the slain priest would be communicated in due course.

Fr. Okechukwu’s murder highlights the growing insecurity in Kaduna State, where kidnappings and killings have become rampant.

The state has witnessed numerous attacks on Christian and Islamic clerics in recent years, with criminal gangs and terrorists targeting religious leaders and their congregations for ransom and, in some cases, outright execution.

This is not the first time Fr. Okechukwu has been a victim of kidnapping. In December 2022, he was abducted from the rectory of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fadan Kono, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State, and was released after three days in captivity.

His latest abduction and subsequent killing have sparked renewed outrage over the deteriorating security situation in the region. Religious and civil society groups have repeatedly called on the Nigerian government to take decisive action against the rampant attacks on religious leaders and innocent citizens.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/03/05/suspected-bandits-kill-catholic-church-rev-father-okechukwu-kaduna-after-abducting-him

Too bad. May his soul rest in peace. Tinubu sit up and do something or forget 2027

Rest in peace


Islam and Christianity are like Dee-well and Dee-bam in portharcourt.


1. Dee-well believes in a god called Odin while Dee-bam believes in a god called Ogor, Christians believe in a god called Yahweh, Islam believes in Allah.

2. They all think their gods are powerful and can protect them but when they need real protection, they go to native doctors for charms. They claim to serve powerful gods yet they go to witch doctors and Nigeria police for protection

3. They all sing and dance to their gods for protection from enemies but you know they get killed everyday.

4. Even when their gods fail to protect them, they still believe they are powerful gods.

5. They hate themselves so much. And they believe it's ok to belong to their group but bad to the other group.

6. They collect monthly dues and donations from . Christianity charges 10% monthly and Islam 2.5% monthly tithe and offering from their .

7. They don't tell you about the money part when they are trying to make you them until you .

Christianity, Islam, Vikings, Aye, Eiye etc are all the same .

Hausafulanis killed Igbo man.










Hope if retaliation starts they won't blame us.



Because Igbo can't continue allowing their people murdered in North.



No uproar, but imagine if the report said Hausafulanis imam was killed in East, even Yorubas will in attacking Igbos.





But now everywhere is calm, Yoruba Muslims don't have data to create threads or comment.

If na ipob mistakenly kill one imam now for east,ewedu media go publicise am l,reprisals go start for North hope everybody dey see?

Eyah

They are terrorists not bandits. Those calling them bandits are also part of this terrorism network as sponsored by Saudi and it's proxies.

Insecurity has to go

So bad

Mozlem mozlem tinket

COMRADES, this MU-MU tickets is doing us Christians bad in this country

These Bandits will not die well.

They will die a Gruesome Death.

This is really sad!

Nuf said

He wasn't only killed bcus of his religion but his tribe.

Islam doing a massive damage to the world.

ClearFlair:
Insecurity has to go

I think at this point, jungle justice will be the best...

Imagine priests have really suffered this insecurities in Nigeria

They should kill a Muslim cleric in Southeast too na.......an eye for an eye .

Jehovah is always helpless where it matters. RIP to the man. I'm sure he prayed for Jehovah to rescue him, but because his god is in a vegetative state, he could not help him.

Abducted from his residence?

This is more of an assassination..

When we say Elrufai Boys are fighting and looting for Allahu sake in a coded Jihad ideology strictly against Christianity and Christians ✝️ dem go say we lie

Yesterday was Paradang of Plateau state, today na Rev Fr that can't hunt a fly...

Cha E

Hmmm
Dem dey find Vatican trouble

Is there any difference between the so called terrorists and bandits in Nigeria?
Na name we dey use yake deceive ourselves for dis country, Abeg make we dey call dem wetin dem be. These people na terrorists QED.

Once you are christain in the north Islam turns you to an endangered species. Spits on sharia

Is a gain for the rev. Father..Dead is not dead ..But for the terrorist dead is hell for Dem..U can't take wat u can't give is a big sin...

delishpot:
This year, EVERYONE promoting terrorism will perish. Nigerians, Mark these words.
The terror is too much. Tinubu, Buhari and every person in the know , sponsoring, protecting, providing for terrorists will feel the cold hands of God.

That's the problem, handing people over to God who cannot even help himself. The quicker Africans realize that God needs more help than humans, the better people start taking charge of affairs themselves for a quick result.

Very sad. May his soul rest in peace. I pray that the so called bandits are paid in their own coin soonest.