Reverend Father Joseph Akete of St. John Catholic Church, Kudenda in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who was kidnapped eight weeks ago by gunmen, has died in captivity.
The Chancellor, Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Christian Emmanuel, disclosed this in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The PUNCH had reported that on March 8, some gunmen suspected to be bandits invaded the St. John Catholic Church, Kudenda in Chikun LGA of the state and abducted Akete, killing one security guard.
According to the Chancellor, the late Catholic priest had died between April 18 and 20, 2022.
He said the cleric was ill before the abduction, noting that the hoodlums never allowed him to go along with his drugs as of the time of the incident.
The Chancellor said, “Rev. Father Joseph, aged 48, was kidnapped from his residence, in St. John Catholic Church Kudenda, where he was serving as parish priest, on March 8, 2022.
“His own brother was killed there in his presence and after his brother was killed, his condition worsened and he died.
“We have not recovered his corpse but we have confirmed his death, people who were kidnapped together saw him.”
The Chancellor quoted the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, to have communicated his sympathies to the bereaved family and the entire Catholic Community of St John Catholic Church, Kudenda and assured them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.
“Details of his funeral arrangement will be announced as soon as they are ready. Meanwhile, kindly continue to pray for his peaceful repose, and for the consolation of the bereaved Christian Community in the Archdiocese of Kaduna,” the Chancellor added. (Punch)
