Catholic seminarians in Nigeria have expressed deep concern over the rising cases of kidnapping targeting priests and clergy members, warning that Catholic priests have now become “soft targets” for criminals.
The seminarians, speaking during a prayer vigil in Kaduna, lamented that priests are being abducted at an alarming rate, particularly in rural parishes and isolated communities, where security presence remains weak.
“It’s heartbreaking that those who dedicate their lives to God and service are no longer safe. Many priests have been kidnapped, and some never return,” one seminarian said.
They called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take urgent action to protect religious leaders, noting that the continued attacks are instilling fear within the Church and discouraging missionary work.
Recent reports show that several priests across Benue, Kaduna, and Niger States have either been abducted or killed in the past few months, highlighting a disturbing trend in Nigeria’s worsening insecurity crisis.
Church leaders have since urged faithful Catholics to intensify prayers for divine intervention while calling for decisive government measures to end the menace.