Police Rescue Catholic Priest, Arrest 2 Suspects In Kaduna

Kaduna State– A  joint operation by the local police force and a vigilant community group has rescued Rev. Fr. Andrew Anana, the Catholic priest of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Godogodo, from his captors.

It was gathered that two suspected kidnappers were arrested in connection with the crime.

According to a statement released on Monday, November 6, 2023, by ASP Mansur Hassan, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, disclosed that the kidnappers and the cleric’s family had come to an agreement on a ransom of N4 million prior to the rescue operation.

The cleric was kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday, November 4, 2023, at Godogodo in Jema’a Local Government Area.

The police working in tandem with vigilantes trailed the gunmen to their hideout in Dogon Kurmi Forest where a gun duel ensued.

The security operatives tactically dislodged the hoodlums and successfully rescued the cleric unhurt.

“The operatives of Kaduna Police Command attached to Kafanchan Divisional headquarters had on the 04/11/2023 at about 1000 hours acted on a reported distress situation from Godo-godo Police outstation that a certain Reverend Father, Andrew Anana of St. Francis Catholic Church Godo-godo in Jema’a local government area, has earlier on the 04/11/2023 at about 2230 hours, been abducted by unidentified gunmen and whisked to an unknown place,” the statement read.

“The operatives in conjunction with local vigilantes trailed the gunmen to their hideout in the vast Dogon Kurmi forest where a gun duel ensued. The operatives tactically cum successfully dislodged the hoodlums and rescued the clergyman unhurt.

“Two number of suspects, namely; Lawal Muhammad, 27 years and Ya’u Hussain, 30 years both males of Datti and Dogon Kurmi villages respectively were arrested.

“Equally, an AK-47 rifle loaded with two rounds of live 7.62 X 39mm ammunition was recovered from the said suspects.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the motive of the armed hoodlums who abducted the reverend father was basically financial since a N4 million naira ransom has already been agreed with the family of the victim before the Police operatives struck.

“The gunmen were four in number thus, two are still at large, though strongly suspected to be nursing gunshot wounds from the violent combat.

“Hence, the Police Command is calling on the public around that axis to be on the watch for any person or persons nursing suspected bullet injuries and report same to the closest Police station or any security outfit.

“The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP Musa Yusuf Garba while commending the operatives for the recorded success, charged them not to relent in denying criminal elements in the state of any operating space.

“He again called on the members of the public to always be on the lookout for suspicious characters in their area and report them to any nearest security agency.”

Acting Communication Director of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Rev. Fr. Okafor Gabriel Tochukwu, confirmed the release of the priest.

“With great joy, we announce the safe release of Fr Andrew Anana who was kidnapped in the early hours of this morning. While we thank God for this, we commend into His hands all those still held in captivity by their kidnappers,” he said.