Reverend Father John Cheitnum, one of the two Catholic priests abducted in Lere Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, has been murdered by his abductors.
The murdered priest was the Director of Communications at the Catholic Diocese of Kafancan, as well as the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) in Jema’s LGA of the state.
Reverend Father Cheitnum and his colleague, Reverend Father Donatus Cleopas, were kidnapped by bandits on July 16 while on ministerial duties at the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church, Yadin Garu in Lere LGA.
The decomposing body of the priest was discovered on Tuesday, according to a statement by the Chancellor of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo.
Kaduna has recorded several kidnappings of clerics in recent years. Last year, the Catholic Church of Kaduna Diocese alone lost three priests to banditry, and four others were kidnapped and released on ransom.
