After the heart-wrenching attack on St. Raphael Fadan Kamantan Parish in Kaduna, Nigeria, eight individuals believed to be responsible have been detained by security forces.
According to Captain James Oya of the Special Military Task Force Operation Safe Haven, these suspects aren’t just linked to the parish fire but are also connected to the murder of a woman in early September.
The primary motive behind the attack on the rectory was to abduct the parish’s two priests, Father Emmanuel Okolo and Noah Monday. “The swift response of our troops rescued the priests,” says Oya. However, Danlami didn’t escape the inferno.
Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi of the Diocese of Kafanchan painted a grim picture of the attack’s aftermath. “When they failed in their attempt to enter the father’s house, they set it on fire… the seminarian was burned inside,” he says. He further emphasized the negligence of the nearby military forces, noting the disturbing lack of reaction even with a checkpoint just a kilometer away.
The tragic incident adds to the troubling list of religious persecutions in Nigeria, particularly targeting the Catholics. “Nigerian citizens are unprotected. We hardly benefit from the security forces,” says Bishop Kundi.
The arrest of these suspects brings a ray of hope, signaling a potential crackdown on religious persecution.
As investigations continue, the local community is awaiting justice for Na’aman Danlami and many others who have suffered due to religious persecution in Nigeria.
Pray for Na’aman Danlami and victims of religious persecution!
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